Tulip Poplar

Family: Magnoliaceae

Species: l. tulipifera

Description: The tulip tree is one of the largest of the native trees of the eastern United States. It prefers deep, rich, and rather moist soil; it is common, though not abundant, nor is it solitary.

Height: 58m tall; 3m wide

Leaves: The alternate leaves are simple, pinnately veined, measuring five to six inches long and wide. They have four lobes, and are heart-shaped or truncate or slightly wedge-shaped at base, entire and the apex cut across at a shallow angle, making the upper part of the leaf look square; midrib and primary veins prominent.

Bark: The bark is brown and furrowed.

Flowers: May; Perfect, solitary, terminal, greenish yellow, borne on stout peduncles and inch and a half to two inches long, cup-shaped, erect, conspicuous. The bud is enclosed in a sheath of two triangular bracts which fall as the blossom opens.

Fruit: Narrow light brown cone, formed by many samara-like carpels which fall, leaving the axis persistent all winter. September, October