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TREE ANCESTORS 



The tulip-tree is extensively lumbered, not only because of its 

 size and the extent of clear wood that it yields, but because, al- 

 though not strong, the wood is soft and easily worked, and there 

 is a very large demand for it for interior finish, boat building, 

 shingles, woodenware, etc. 



It and its relative, the magnolia, are practically our only forest 

 trees with large flowers, those of the tuHp-tree being cup-shaped, 



Fig. 36. Sketch Map Showing Existing Range (irregular black areas) 

 AND Fossil Occurrences (solid circles) of the Tulip-tree 



about 2 inches in length and breadth, slightly fragrant, with 3 

 large petaloid sepals and 6 orange yellow petals marked with green. 

 Inside are the numerous large stamens and a central mass of pistils 

 which mature to form a dry cone-like fruit about 3 inches long, and 

 made up of spirally arranged, overlapping, stiffly winged fruits, 

 which the winters winds gradually detach and whirl against our 

 window panes. 



