Tulip Tree (Yellow Poplar) Liriondendron tulipifera L.

Classification Kingdom – Plantae Superdivison – Spermatophyta Division – Magnoliophyta Class – Magnoliopsida Subclass – Magnoliidae Order – Magnoliales Family – Magnoliaceae Genus – Liriodendron L. Species – Liriondendron Tulipifera

Shape, Form, Type When Yellow Poplars grow in the forest, they are generally long, over 100 ft, and limb-free. When they grow in the open, they have a pyramidal crown at first, but grow to have a more oval shape. Figure 1

Bark When Tulip Trees are young, their bark is smooth and a light gray, almost green. As they develop, they form white diamond shaped grooves with flat ridges between them. Many sapsucker holes are present on the older trees. Figure 2

Twig The twigs are generally a red-brown with a waxy shine. Stipules are large, and buds are lengthened. When broken, the twigs have a spicy odor. Figure 3

Leaf Leaves of Tulip trees are between four and eight inches long. They are green or light green and have a notched to flat tops. They alternate, are simple, have four lobes, are palmately veined, and are orbicular. Figure 4

Bud Buds are dark red and obtuse in the winter and are covered with the bloom. The bud of the flower is closed into a caducous brack that is double-valved. Figure 5

Flower Flowers reside high in the tree and resemble large tulips. They are about two and a half inches long, and are of a yellow-green color with and orange corolla. They generally appear in late spring or early summer. Figure 6

Fruit The fruit is cone-like and made of samaras, usually two inches long). The samaras are one-winged and curve upwards. It is deciduous when fully mature . Usually, these mature in the early fall and disseminate by early winter. They resemble wooden flowers. Figure 7

Habitat and Range Yellow Poplars are generally found in the eastern half of the United States and eastern Canada. They can grow in a variety of climates and many kinds of topsoil. Figure 8

Uses Many people use tulip trees for landscaping, as they are magnificently shaped. It is considered a major honey plant in the east United States. Also, these tress have a soft, fine-grained wood that is used widely for cheap and stable wood. It is easy to work with which makes it more popularly used. Figure 9

References Figure References: Informational References: Figures 1-4, 6, 7: Yellow-popular. (2010). Retrieved June 22, 2010 from Department of Forest Resources and Enviromental Conservation, Virginia Tech: http://www.cnr.vt.edu/​dendro/​dendrology/​syllabus/​factsheet.cfm?id=54. Figure 5: Tulip-tree. (2010). Retrieved June 22, 2010 from British Wild Flowers: http://www.british-wild-flowers.co.uk/​00%20john%20somerville/​tulip-tree,-bud.jpg. Figure 8: Liriodendron tulipifera L. (2010). Retrieved June 22, 2010 from United States Department of Agriculture, Plants Profile: http://plants.usda.gov/​java/​profile?symbol=litu. Figure 9: Liriondendron tulipifera. (2010). Retrieved June 22, 2010 from Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/​wiki/​liriodendron_tulipifera. Informational References: Yellow-popular. (2010). Retrieved June 22, 2010 from Department of Forest Resources and Enviromental Conservation, Virginia Tech: http://www.cnr.vt.edu/​dendro/​dendrology/​syllabus/​factsheet.cfm?id=54. Liriodendron tulipifera L. (2010). Retrieved June 22, 2010 from United States Department of Agriculture, Plants Profile: http://plants.usda.gov/​java/​profile?symbol=litu.