ILLINOIS TREES: SELECTION, PLANTING, AND CARE 



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Fig. 103.— The fast- 

 growing tulip tree is some- 

 times called saddle tree 

 because of the saddle 

 shape of its four-lobed 



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leaves (inset). 



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spread of 50-70 feet. In the forest the straight, thick trunk may 

 be free of branches to a height of 50 feet or more. 



The smooth, shiny, saddle-shaped, alternate leaves (Fig. 103 

 inset) are dark yellow-green above and pale beneath. It is nat- 

 ural for many tulip trees to have scattered leaves turn bright 

 yellow^ in late July and August. The leaves have four distinct, 

 pointed lobes and measure 3-6 inches in both length and breadth. 

 The perfect flowers, which appear in May or June, are greenish 

 white with an orange band at the base, tulip shaped, and lio-2 

 inches long. The cone-shaped, brown fruit ripens in September 

 and October. It is 21/2-3 inches long and contains winged seeds 

 with a hard, bony coat. The brown bark is thin and scaly when 

 young but becomes deeply furrowed with age. On young branches 

 the bark is dark green and smooth at first but it soon shows scat- 

 tered white spots in the developing fissures. 



Although the light, soft, brittle wood is weak, it is receptive 

 to paint and glue and is used for exterior trim, interior finishing, 

 furniture, veneer, shingles, boats, drawing boards, tables, cab- 

 inets, toys, and novelties. Tulip tree is resistant to injury by ice 



