Species Web Page by: Deborah Leigh Brown
Species Liriodendron tulipifera
by: Deborah Leigh Brown
The common names forLiriodendron tulipifera are Tuliptree,
Yellow Poplar, Whitewood, Tulip Poplar, Blue Poplar, Saddletree,
Canoewood, Tulip Magnolia, and the Poplar Tulip-bearing Lily Tree.
L. tulipifera belongs to the family Magnoliaceae,
subfamily Liriodendroideae, and the genus Liriodendron.
Photographed by: Deborah Leigh Brown
Young L. tulipifera tree
Liriodendron tulipifera are tall, deciduous, broadleaf
trees that often live a long time. The bark of mature trees has
"grayish brown, interlacing, rounded ridges which are separated
by grayish crevices" (Dirr, 1975). The bark is similar to Ash
but is lighter and has less diamond-shaped furrows. The bark of
young trees is brown, smooth, and thin but ages to deep gray-brown
with the long, vertical ridges. The leaves are alternate with a
distinctive tuliplike shape. These trees grow to 60 meters
high and 3.5 meters in diameter. They produce perfect, cup-shaped
flowers that are 4 to 5 centimeters wide and are greenish-yellow
in color and are orange inside near the base. These flowers are
produced from June to July and appear after the leaves have formed
and are usually found high on the tree. Flowers are not produced on
young trees. They begin to flower at age 15 and continue to flower
for 200 years. It has a rapid growth rate that slows with age. It
is ths state flower of Indiana and is the second tallest tree in North
America behind the sycamore (Hottes, 1932). The wood of the Tuliptree
is yellow and the sap is white. "The inner bark of the root is acrid
and is used and is used as a stimulant in native medicine. It is also
the source of Tulipiferine, an alkaloid which acts violently on the
heart and nervous system" (Gardiner, 1989).
The species is a native of North America and is found
in southern Ontario and the eastern and southeastern United States, from
Massachusetts to Illinois, Arkansas to Lousiana, south to the Gulf
Coast and northern Florida.
Liriodendron tulipifera |
AREA | STATUS | REFERENCES |
North America: Continental United States; Canada | Yes | Chandler, 1988 |
Eastern North America: United States east of Mississippi; Ontario and eastern Canada | Yes | Chandler, 1988 |
Southeastern United States: AL AR DE DC FL GA KY MD NC SC TN VA WV | Yes | Chandler, 1988 |
Southern Appalachian States: AL GA KY MD NC SC TN VA WV | Yes | Gardiner, 1989 |
Coastal Plain | Yes | Gardiner, 1989 |
Piedmont | Yes | Deborah Brown, Personal Observation |
Blue Ridge Mountains | Yes | Gardiner, 1989 |
Great Smoky Mountains National Park | Probably | Deborah Brown, Personal Observation |
Ridge and Valley | Yes | Gardiner, 1989 |
Cumberland Plateau | Probably | Deborah Brown, Personal Observation |
Central Arch | Probably | Deborah Brown, Personal Observation |
Georgia | Yes | Ritter, 1996 |
Clarke County, Georgia | Yes | Deborah Brown, Personal Observation |
Sams Farm | Common | Deborah Brown, Personal Observation |
Old Field | No | Deborah Brown, Personal Observation |
Wetland | ? | Deborah Brown, Personal Observation |
Woods | Common | Deborah Brown, Personal Observation |
1-Hectare Plot | Common | Deborah Brown, Personal Observation |
Liriodendron tulipifera grows in a wide variety of
soil types but prefers slightly acidic soil as well as soil that is
deep, rich, moist, and loose textured. These trees are not
transplanted readily. Mature trees have thick enough bark to allow
them to survive small fires; however, small trees are susceptible
to fires due to their thin bark. Fires can actually enhance the
establishment of seedlings. Tuliptrees are mainly pollinated by
insects with some selfing. The samaras are dispersed by the wind and
travel distances up to four to five times the height of the parent
tree. They produce a large number of seeds because of the low
levels of viability. The seeds average 5-20% viability. The Yellow
Poplar is shade intolerant, is very sensitive to high ozone
concentrations, and responds well to fertilization. This species
is relatively free of pests. The four insect species that substantially
affect the tree are the Tuliptree scale, Toumeyella liriodendri, the
Yellow-Poplar weevil, Odontopus calceatus, the root collar borer,
Euophera ostricolorella, and the Columbian timber beetle. The wood
of L. tulipifera has a variety of uses. Its wood is used for lumber,
furniture, plywood, musical instruments, particle board, interior
finishing, boats, shingles, and woodenware.
The Yellow Poplar is found in the geographical
distribution listed above and is found in the 1, 70, 100 area of
the 1-hectare plot at Sams Farm.
References
Chandler, Philip, et al. Taylor's Guide to Trees. New York:
Chanticleer Press, 1988.
Dirr, Michael. Manual of Woody Landscape plants.
Illinois: Stipes Publishing Co., 1975.
Eyewitness Garden Handbooks: Garden Trees. Ed. Francis
Ritter. New York: DK Publishing, Inc., 1996.
Gardiner, J.M. Magnolias: Their Care and
Cultivation. London: Artillery House, 1989.
Hottes, Alfred. The Book of Trees. Canada: General Publishing
Co., Ltd., 1932.
(C) Copyrights 97 Deborah Leigh Brown
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