Liriodendron tulipifera (Tulip tree)

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Liriodendron tulipifera L.

Tulip tree, tulip poplar, yellow poplar

Kingdom	Plantae	Plants, but not fungi, lichens, or algae
Subkingdom	Tracheobionta	Vascular plants—plants with a “circulatory system” for delivering water and nutrients
Division	Magnoliophyta	Flowering plants, also known as angiosperms
Class	Magnoliopsida	Dicotyledons—plants with two initial seed leaves
Subclass	Magnoliidae	Includes magnolias, nutmeg, bay laurel, cinnamon, avocado, black pepper, and many others
Order	Magnoliales	Includes the custard apple family, magnolia family, nutmeg family, and others
Family	Magnoliaceae	Magnolia family
Genus	Liriodendron	From New Latin, leirion, lirion, lily; and -dendron, tree
Species	tulipifera	“Bringing forth tulips,” for the tulip-shaped flowers

About plant names...

The American tulip tree is a North American native.

Identification: These trees can reach as much as 164′ (50 m) in height in the wild, with tall, straight trunks. They are roughly conical in shape when young, becoming more ungainly or irregular in shape when older. Leaves are alternate, 5″ (12 cm) × 8″ (20 cm), with leaf stems 3-4″ (7.6-10 cm) long. Their shape resembles a tulip, hence the name. Leaves are bright shades of yellow in the fall. Flowers are green, white, or rarely yellow, and also reminiscent of tulips. They have an orange band on the tepals. Fruits are roughly cone-shaped, green, becoming tan. They remain on the tree during the winter.

Liriodendron tulipifera flower. By 3268zauber.

Online References:

Www.carolinanature.com

The USDA Plants Database

Wikipedia

The University of Connecticut Plant Database

The Virginia Tech Department of Forest Resources and Environmental Conservation

Plants for a Future, a resource and information centre for edible and otherwise useful plants

The USDA Forest Service's Silvics of North America site

Wikimedia Commons

The USDA Forest Service's Fire Effects Information Database

5/15/2010 · Garden in the Woods, Framingham, Massachusetts · ≈ 9 × 6″ (23 × 15 cm)

3/2/2011 · Susan and Raimond’s, Phoenix, Arizona

7/3/2023 · Gettysburg National Military Park, Gettysburg, Pennsylvania

7/2/2010 · Indigo Landing, Alexandria, Virginia · ≈ 7 × 4½′ (2.2 × 1.5 m)

9/1/2013 · Trail Near James River, Midlothian, Virginia · ≈ 12 × 8″ (31 × 21 cm)

7/31/2016 · Skyline Drive, Shenandoah National Park, Virginia

Liriodendron tulipifera description by Thomas H. Kent, last updated 11 Jul 2023.

7/2/2010 · Indigo Landing, Alexandria, Virginia · ≈ 1½ × 1′ (57 × 38 cm)

9/1/2013 · Trail Near James River, Midlothian, Virginia · ≈ 12 × 8″ (31 × 21 cm)

10/3/2010 · Tarkill Interpretive Trail, Rte 402, Poconos, Peck’s Pond, Pennsylvania

9/1/2013 · Trail Near James River, Midlothian, Virginia

9/1/2013 · Trail Near James River, Midlothian, Virginia · ≈ 1½ × 2½′ (53 × 79 cm)

5/15/2010 · Garden in the Woods, Framingham, Massachusetts · ≈ 11 × 7″ (27 × 18 cm)

10/4/2010 · Susan and Raimond’s, Phoenix, Maryland · ≈ 14 × 9″ (35 × 23 cm)

5/15/2010 · Garden in the Woods, Framingham, Massachusetts

Range: Zones 5-9:

About this map...