110 ( TREES 



enough to bloom. (See illustration, page 103.) In spring 

 the terminal buds of samplings best show the peculiarity of 

 the tree's vernation. Two green leaves mth palms to- 

 gether form a flat bag that encloses the new shoot. Hold 

 this bag up to the light and you see, as a shadow within, 

 a curved petiole and leaf. The bag opens along its edge 

 seam, the leaf -stem straightens, lifting the blade which is 

 folded on the midrib. At the base of the petiole stands a 

 smaller flat green bag. As the leaf grows to maturity the 

 basal palms of its protecting bag shrivel and fail away, 

 leaving the ring scar around the leaf base. 



Now the growing shoot has carried up the second bag, 

 which opens and another leaf expands, sheds its leafy 

 stipuleSs and a third follows. The studies of this unique 

 vernation delight children and grown-ups. It is absolutely 

 unmatched in the world of trees. 



The leathery blades of the tuHp tree are from four to six 

 inches broad and long, with basal lobes, like those of a 

 maple leaf, and the end chopped off square. Occasionally 

 there is a notch, made by the two end lobes projecting a 

 trifle beyond the midrib. The leaves are singularly free 

 from damage, keeping their dark lustrous beauty through 

 the summer, and turning to clear yellow before they fall. 



The winged seeds fall first from the top of the erect 

 cones, the wind whirling them far, because the flat blades 

 are long and the seed-cases light — many of them empty in 

 fact. Far into winter a tulip tree seems to be blossoming, 

 because its bare branches are tipped with the remnants of 

 the seed cones, faded and shining almost white against the 

 dark branches. 



Tulip wood is soft and weak, pale brown, and light in 

 weight. It is easily worked and is used locally for house- 



