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TULIP TREE. 

 Liriodendron Tulipifera, Linnaeus. 



GENUS DESCRIPTION — This genus has numerous fossil representatives, but only one other 

 living species, a native of China (Liriodendron chinensis, Sarg.) is known. 



FORM — A large and interesting tree often attaining a height of 50-70 ft. with a diameter of 

 2-3 ft. and sometimes reaching a height of 200 ft. with a diameter of 10-11 feet. Prof. Guyot 

 recorded a tree in Francis Cove, western North Carolina, Isnown as the "Guyot or Granny 

 Poplar," which has a diameter of 16 ft. and was free from lateral branches for more than lOO 

 ft. from the base. Trunk tall, straight, very slightly tapering, free from lateral branches for a 

 considerable distance from the base. Crown in young trees pyramidal, in older trees rather 

 shallow, broad, and spreading. See Fig. 41. 



BARK — When young smooth, bitter, ashy-gray. On trunks brown, thick, distinctly marked with 

 long and regular furrows and ridges. At a distance it resembles the bark of the White Ash 

 but lacks the characteristic diamond-shaped fissures of the latter. See Fig. 84. 



TWIGS — During the first summer green, smooth, rather slender, often branching, marked with 

 indistinct lenticeJs, encircled by a pair of stipules at each node. During first winter reddish- 

 brown, smooth, shiny, marked by conspicuous pale lenticels, elevated leaf-scars and stipular 

 rings encircling the twigs which often persist for many years. 



BUDS — Alternate, large, smooth, flattened, oblong, blunt-pointed, reddish-brown mottled with 

 white dots and covered with glaucous bloom. Lateral buds rather divergent, smaller than the 

 terminal, sometimes superposed. Bud-scales smooth, white-dotted, spoon-shaped, valvate in pairs 

 forming a distinct ridge where they meet. Each pair of stipular scales incloses in succession a 

 reflexed, folded, stalked leaf with its 2 stipular scales. Stipular scales enlarge when the bud 

 opens to a length of 2 inches and width of 1 inch. Each succeeding leaf is reflexed in the op- 

 posite direction of the preceding one. 



LEAVES — Alternate, simple, broadly ovate in outline, truncate at apex, with 2 apical and 

 2-4 basal lobes, bright green above, paler below. Petioles slender, 5-6 inches long. 



LEAF-SCARS — Alternate, elevated, conspicuous, large, orbicular. Bundle-scars small, numerous, 

 scattered uniformly over the leaf-scar, 



FLOWERS — Appear after the leaves; large, 1^-2 inches deep, cup-shaped, greenish-yellow, with 

 3 reflexed sepals and 6 converging petals. 



FRUIT — Matures in' September or October; a light brown, oblong, pointed cone 2J-3 inches long, 

 i of an inch wide, consisting of carpels 1-li inches long in the base of which the seeds are 

 contained. 



WOOD — Diffuse-porous; with small inconspicuous medullary rays; soft, not strong, light, not 

 durable in ground, easily worked, light yellowish or brownish heartwood with thin white 

 sapwood. Weighs 26.36 lbs. per cubic foot. Used in construction, interior finish, furniture 

 especially in veneering, shingles, wooden-ware and automobile bodies. Its uses are somewhat 

 similar to White Pine. 



DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERISTICS— The Tulip Tree also known as Yellow Poplar, White- 

 wood, Tulip Poplar and sometimes Popple, can readily be recognized in summer by its straight 

 clean fis&uied bole, its characteristic leaves with truncate apex and large stipules. The leaf can- 

 not be confused with that of any other species since it appears from a distance to have its 

 apex cut off at right angles to the midrib. In spring the flower is also distinctive. In winter 

 the large clean trunks with their peculiar fissures in the bark together with the fruit which often 

 persists, are characteristic. At close range the buds with the stipule-scars encircling the twigs 

 will always enable one to recognize this species without fail. The rather large pith often divided 

 by partitions of stone cells is peculiar. 



RANGE — Botanical range from Rhode Island to Michigan and Missouri, south to Florida and 

 Arkansas. Commercial " range not so wide. 



DISTRIBUTION IN PENNSYLVANIA— Most common along streams or moist locations in the 



eastern and southern parts of the State. Also found locally in western part. It does not appear 



in pure stands, but some excellent stands almost approaching pure stands are found in Frank- 

 lin, Adams, and Northampton counties. 



HABITAT — It prefers deep, rather rich, and moist soil. Common along streams, on islands, 

 upon semi-swampy areas, and at the base of mountain slopes. Sometimes found on the tops of 

 mountains especially where small streams and springs are prevalent. Usually occurs as 

 scattered individuals mixed with other hardwoods and sometimes White Pine and Hemlock. 



IMPORTANCE OF THE SPECIES— The Tulip Tree is one of the most valuable and de- 

 sirable timber trees of Pennsylvania. Its wood belongs in the first rank with White Pine. 

 It is rather difficult to propagate artifically on account of the low fertility of the seeds and 

 its sensitiveness to transplanting. Attempts have been made to propagate it by means of 

 cuttings but without success. Natural seed regeneration of this species can be carried on 

 with success and should be advocated and developed in preference to the artificial. This spe- 

 cies is also free from insect and fungal diseases and most desirable as a shade, lawn, and 

 avenue tree. 



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