2. LlRIODENDRON TuLIPIFERA TULIP TREE. 41 



One of our grandest trees, sometimes 150 ft. (46 m.) in height and 

 with a trunk JO ft. (3 m.) in diameter at the base, columnar, and of great 

 length. Branches regularly disposed. The bruised bark or leaves, when 

 fresh, possess a rather pleasant aromatic odor and bitter, pungent flavor. 



HABITAT. Southern New England, New York and Ontario to Michi- 

 gan and thence southward nearly to the Gulf coast, reaching its maxi- 

 mum development between the Alleganies and the Mississippi. 



PHYSICAL PROPERTIES. Wood light, rather strong, with close, 

 straight grain, compact, easily worked and yielding a satiny finish. Sap- 

 wood nearly white; heart-wood of a light lemon yellow color, or some- 

 times of a brownish tint whence its two seemingly contradictory 

 names, White and Yellow Poplar, the former referring to the sap- 

 wood and the latter to the heart. The name "Poplar," though, is 

 wrongly applied to this species, as it is very different from and much 

 more valuable than the true Poplar. Specific Gravity, 0.4230; 

 Percentage of Ash, 0.23 ; Relative Approximate Fuel Value, 0.4220; 

 Coefficient of Elasticity, 92667; Modulus of Rupture, 657; Resistance 

 to Longitudinal Pressure, 372; Resistance to Indentation, 82; Weight of 

 a Cubic Foot in Rounds, 26.36. 



USES. This timber, being comparatively tough and -easily worked, is 

 extensively substituted in localities where abundant for the white pine 

 in interior-finishing doors, panels, wainscoting, and is sometimes 

 used for boat-building, shingles, etc. It very much resembles cucumber- 

 wood, and is largely used for the same purposes as that timber for 

 pump-logs, bowls and wooden-ware in general. It is said to make excel- 

 lent charcoal. Paper has been made from the bark.* The name canoe- 

 wood was given to this timber from the fact that the Indians found it 

 one of the very best for use in making their "dug-out" canoes, and they 

 are said to have made them large enough sometimes to carry twenty or 

 thirty persons in a single canoe. 



MEDICINAL PROPERTIES. The bark, especially of the roots, possesses 

 medical properties which are " stimulant, tonic and diaphoretic. It 

 has been used as a substitute for Peruvian bark in intermittent fevers, 

 and has proved serviceable in chronic rheumatism, dyspepsia, and other 

 complaints in which a gentle stimulant and tonic impression is desirable. 

 The dose of the bark in powder is from half a drachm to two drachms. 

 The infusion and decoction are also use'd, but are less efficient. They 

 may be prepared in the proportion of an ounce of the bark to a pint of 

 water and given in the quantity of one or two fluid ounces. The dose 

 of the saturated tincture is a fluid drachm.-" f 



* Elements of Forestry. By Franklin B. Hough, p. 250. 

 ttf". 8. Dispensatory, 15th ed., p. 1687. 



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