TULIP TREK. 867 



The leaves of the Tulip tree are of a singular form, 

 being divided into three lobes, of which trie middle one- 

 is blunt, and hollowed at the point, as if cut with scissars ; 

 the leaf is about four inches long, and alxnit the same 

 width near the base ; the foot-stalk is of much the same 

 length. A strong midrib runs from the footstalk along 

 the leaf, from which branch several smaller veins, and 

 these again break into more minute ramifications. The 

 upper surface of the leaf is smooth, and of a fine lucid 

 green ; beneath, their colour is much paler. The flowers, 

 which are produced at the ends of the branches, are com- 

 posed of six petals, three without, and three within, 

 forming a sort of bell-shaped flower ; whence the inha- 

 bitants of North America gave it the title of Tulip. 

 These flowers are marked with green, yellow, and red 

 spots, and when the trees are in full flower, they have 

 a very handsome appearance. The blossoms open in 

 July, and when they fall, are succeeded by a kind of 

 cone, which does not ripen in England. 



Kalm observes, that it is very pleasant at the end of 

 May to see one of these large trees with its singular leaves, 

 covered for a fortnight together with flowers which have 

 the shape, size, and partly the colour of Tulips. The 

 wood is used for canoes (whence the Swedes resident in 

 North America call it Canoe tree), for bowls, dishes, and 

 spoons. This author mentions a barn which he saw, of 

 considerable size, the sides and roof of which were formed 

 of one Tulip tree, split into boards : but he says this 

 wood is subject to one great inconvenience, for that it 

 contracts and expands itself more than any other. The 

 bark is pounded, and given as a medicine to horses. The 

 roots are supposed to bo a good substitute for Jesuits' 1 

 bark in cases of ague. 



