MAGNOLIACEAE 

 Tulip Poplar. Tnlip-tree. White-wood 



Liriodendron tulipifera L. 



HABIT. A large tree 70-100 feet high, with a columnar 

 trunk 2-5 feet in diameter; forming a rather open, conical crown 

 of slender branches. 



LEAVES. Alternate, simple, 5-6 inches long and broad; 

 4-lobed; entire; lustrous, dark green above, pale or glaucous be- 

 neath, turning clear yellow in autumn; petioles slender, angled, 

 5-6 inches long. 



FLOWERS. May-June, after the leaves; perfect; terminal; 

 solitary on stout peduncles; tulip-shaped, greenish yellow, 1^-2 

 inches long; sepals 3, greenish, early deciduous; petals 6, in 2 

 rows, greenish yellow with an orange spot at the base, early 

 deciduous ; stamens numerous, somewhat shorter than the petals ; 

 pistils numerous, clinging together about a central axis; ovary 

 i-celled. 



FRUIT. September-October; a narrow, light brown cone 

 2^/2-3 inches long, composed of numerous carpels; carpels long, 

 flat, with a i-2-seed'ed nutlet at the base, separating from the 

 slender spindle at maturity. 



WINTER-BUDS. Terminal bud y 2 -i inch long, obtuse, 

 flattish, dark red, covered with a glaucous bloom. 



BARK. Twigs smooth, lustrous, reddish, becoming brown- 

 ish, and at length gray; ashy gray, thin and scaly on young 

 trunks, becoming thick, brownish, and deeply furrowed with age. 



WOOD. Light, soft, brittle, weak, easily worked, light 

 yellow or brown, with thin, cream-white sapwood. 



DISTRIBUTION. Lower Peninsula south of the Grand 

 River. Formerly common, but becoming rare. 



HABITAT. Prefers deep, rich, rather moist soil, but adapts 

 itself readily to any good, light soil. 



NOTES. Difficult to transplant, but rapid of growth when 

 once established. Not disfigured by insect enemies. Good for 

 ornamental planting. 



137 



