Description and habitat
Tuliptree (Liriodendron tulipifera) is among the tallest deciduous tree species in the Great Lakes Region, the coniferous Eastern White Pine (Pinus strobus) is slightly taller in old-growth forests. The species name Liriodendron tulipifera translates to “tulip-bearing lily tree”. There are only two species of Liriodendron in the world, the Chinese Tuliptree (L. chinense) of southern China and northern Vietnam is the other species. In turn, Liriodendron is only one of two genera in the Magnolia Family (Magnoliaceae), the other genus includes the namesake Magnolias, of which Ontario has only one native species, the Cucumber Magnolia or Cucumbertree (M. acuminata).
Tuliptree is best identified by it’s leaves, which have 4 distinct lobes, almost as if part of the leaf was cut-out by scissors. The shape of the leaves is loosely reminiscent of a boat shape. Leaves are arranged alternately. In the autumn, the foliage turns yellow or bronze, exposing reddish-brown oval buds up to 2 cm in diameter. Flowers appear in June, each 3-10 cm in diameter. They are yellow to green in colour, with orange at the base. The bark is comprised of intersecting ridges that often form diamond-shaped furrows, easily confusable with White Ash (Fraxinus americana) bark, another tree species occurring in the same habitats as Tuliptree. To tell the difference, Tuliptree has slightly more flattened ridges on the bark, which are more brown than grey (the opposite is often true for ash). The two species are very easy to distinguish when the foliage is visible in the summer.
Throughout its distribution, including in the Long Point Basin, Tuliptree occurs as a dominant species. It most often occurs in moist mesophytic upland forests with Sugar Maple (Acer saccharum), American Beech (Fagus grandifolia), White Ash, Bitternut Hickory (Carya cordiformis), Red Oak (Quercus rubra), Basswood (Tilia americana), and conifers such as White Pine and Eastern Hemlock (Tsuga canadensis). It can also be found in wet forests, along trees such as Black Walnut (Juglans nigra), Black Maple (Acer nigrum), and Swamp White Oak (Quercus bicolor). Tuliptree does not prefer overly wet or dry conditions, so it is not often found within swamps or oak woodland-savannas. Tuliptree often support a rich assemblage of understory shrubs and herbaceous plants which varies based on forest type. High-quality Tuliptree strands are found across the Long Point Basin, including Backus Woods, Rowanwood (including the Coppen’s Tract), Monroe Landon Woods, and smaller areas of the St. William’s Conservation Reserve and Turkey Point in Norfolk County. Outside the Long Point Basin, large populations of Tuliptree also found at Rondeau Provincial Park, the AuSable River Watershed, the Niagara Peninsula, and the Skunk’s Misery Natural Area of southwest Middlesex County. Across North America, Tuliptree is distributed from the Great Lakes Region south to Louisiana and Florida. The Tulip Tree leaf is used in the Long Point Basin Land Trust logo and is also featured on the Norfolk County Coat of Arms!
Wildlife importance
Wildlife utilize Tuliptree in many ways – small mammals and frugivorous birds consume the seeds of Tuliptree. The foliage is a larval food source many insects, including several species of lepidopterans (butterflies and moths). Some of these species include the Tiger Swallowtail Butterfly (Papilio glaucus), Promethea (Callosamia promethea), Tulip-tree Beauty (Epimecis hortaria) and Tulip-Tree Silk Moth (Callosamia angulifera). The Burdock Borer feeds on the shoots of the Tuliptree (Papaipema cataphracta).
Fun facts
- Tuliptree is a moderately fast grower, allowing understory saplings to rapidly rise into the canopy after windthrow event creates a forest gap, allowing light to penetrate the forest floor. It is also an important pioneer species in meadows.
- Tuliptrees can live over 300 years in ideal growing conditions, towering above surrounding trees!
- Also known as Yellow Poplar, considering the strong but lightweight hardwood of Tuliptree. A valued tree for furniture making, veneer, plywood, and even musical instrument construction due to its stability and workability.
- Tuliptree often “self-prunes” lower branches, leaving a high crown with few to no branches in the lower trunk. It is also well known for having a very straight growth form.
- The primary pollinators of Tuliptree are bees (Apidae), attracted to the rich nectar produced by the flowers.
- The tallest Tuliptrees are over 55 m tall, located in the Central Appalachians of North Carolina and Tennessee.
Written by Matthew Palarchio, HBSc in Environmental Sciences, Western University.
Photo Credits (L-R)
Growth Form © Matthew Palarchio
Bark © Matthew Palarchio
Leaves © Matthew Palarchio
Flower © Glen Berry
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To view a directory of all species featured on our website, visit: https://longpointlandtrust.ca/featured-species
