Liriodendron tulipifera
Family - Magnoliaceae - Magnolia

The stately tulip poplar is so called because of the tulip-like blossoms it sports in early spring. Unfortunately, by the time the tree is large enough to begin blooming, it is so tall that the attractive blossoms are too high for most people to enjoy.

The leaf is an easy one to identify, as it is tulip shaped, thus lending another reason to name the tree tulip tree, or tulip poplar. The leaves in autumn change to a lovely shade of yellow, contrasting nicely with the gray, smooth bark.

The yellow poplar is one of only two species of tulip poplars inhabiting the earth. North America?s representative is native to the eastern United States, occupying nearly every state east of the Mississippi River except the extreme northeastern states of Maine, New Hampshire and Vermont. Liriodendron tulipifera is a member of the Magnolia family, it being the northernmost member of that tribe.

Tulip poplar is a valuable wildlife tree, as the seed is consumed by various birds, squirrels, mice and rabbits. Rabbits and deer browse the twigs and foliage of young trees and rabbits also sometimes eat the bark of young trees during the hard winter season. The lumber is also a valuable resource, good for furniture, interior woodworking and plywood.

The majestic yellow poplar, state tree of Indiana, with its golden yellow autumn leaves and smooth gray bark is a lovely addition to the fall woodlands. Easy to identify with its tulip shaped leaves, the seeds are a valuable resource for all types of wildlife.

? 2006 Paul Wonning is the owner of Gardens and Nature.com a web site about gardening, hiking and other nature related topics.
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