Liriodendron

Trees, deciduous. Pith diaphragmed. Leaves distinctly alternate, n terminal whorl; stipules tardily deciduous on summer shoots, free. Leaf blade evenly (2-)4-6(-10)-lobed, base rounded to shallowly cordate or truncate, apex broadly truncate or notched; surfaces abaxially glaucous, adaxially lustrous, smooth. Flowers protogynous, appearing with the leaves; tepals (7-)9, petaloid, tip recurved, greenish yellow with feathered orange band or blotch near base, outermost tepals sepaloid, reflexed, green; stamens on short torus, tardily deciduous, whorled; filaments 1/3-1/2 length of extrorse anthers. Samaras deciduous, indehiscent, in elongate, spindle-shaped, dry cone. Seeds adherent to dry endocarp. x=19.

Distribution

North America, e Asia.

Discussion

Species 2 (1 in the flora).

Selected References

Berry, E. W. 1901. The origin of stipules in Liriodendron. Bull. Torrey Bot. Club 28: 493-498.

Santamour, F. S. Jr. and F. G. Meyer. 1971. The two tuliptrees. Amer. Hort. Mag. 50(2): 87-89.

Lower Taxa

Liriodendron tulipifera