American tulip tree

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• tulip tree
• tulip-poplar
• yellow-poplar
• Tulip-tree
• Yellow poplar
• canary whitewood
• American tuliptree
• fiddletree
• tulip poplar
• tulipwood
• whitewood

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Liriodendron tulipifera f. fastigiatum
• Liriodendron tulipifera var. fastigiatum
• Liriodendron tulipifera var. flavum
• Liriodendron tulipifera var. acutilobum
• Liriodendron tulipifera var. obtusilobum
• Liriodendron truncatifolium
• Liriodendron tulipifera f. heterophyllum
• Liriodendron tulipifera subsp. integrifolium
• Liriodendron tulipifera subsp. obtusilobum
• Tulipifera liriodendrum
• Liriodendron tulipifera f. aureomarginatum
• Liriodendron tulipifera f. obtusilobum
• Liriodendron tulipifera f. integrifolium
• Liriodendron tulipifera var. integrifolium
• Liriodendron tulipifera var. pyramidale
• Liriodendron tulipifera var. variegatum

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta. Within the class Equisetopsida and subclass Magnoliidae, it is categorized under the order Magnoliales and the family Magnoliaceae. Finally, it is classified under the genus Liriodendron.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a remarkably broad and varied geographical distribution across multiple continents. In Middle Europe, it can be found growing within the regions of Austria and Germany. Its presence extends across the Atlantic to Eastern Canada, specifically in Ontario. Within the North-Central United States, the species is established in states such as Illinois. Additionally, this plant reaches the North-Central Pacific, where it is located in Hawaii.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Liriodendron tulipifera is characterized by its preference for lowland environments, where it thrives in fertile, well-drained, and deep alluvial soils. As a large, deciduous canopy tree, it typically colonizes open areas and successional habitats, often acting as a pioneer species in disturbed sites or forest edges where light availability is high. It requires significant sunlight for optimal growth and establishes itself effectively in moist, temperate regions, often forming part of the upper stories in mixed mesophytic forests. The species is well-adapted to temperate climates, utilizing its extensive root systems to stabilize itself in the rich, loamy substrates characteristic of its lowland habitats.

Habitat :

Lowland

Life history

The life history of Liriodendron tulipifera is characterized by a perennial lifecycle, allowing the plant to establish a long-term presence within its ecosystem. As a phanerophyte, its regenerative buds are located on aerial shoots well above the ground, a structural trait that supports its growth into a large tree. The plant exhibits a deciduous nature, shedding its leaves annually in response to seasonal changes, which is a key component of its physiological rhythm. This combination of a perennial lifespan, phanerophyte life form, and deciduous habit defines its survival strategy and long-term development in its natural habitat.

Deciduousness :

deciduous

Life form :

phanerophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Liriodendron tulipifera is characterized by a massive, self-supporting growth form categorized as a woody tree. It is a terrestrial species that grows independently, functioning neither as a parasite nor as an epiphyte. In terms of stature, the plant exhibits significant height variability, with recorded measurements ranging from a minimum of 10 meters to a maximum of 30 meters, although mean height data suggests an average around 49.09 meters in certain contexts. As a large, woody perennial, it possesses a sturdy structure that allows it to stand upright without the need for climbing or liana-like support.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

tree

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

30 m

Plant height mean:

49.0966666666667 m

Plant height min:

10 m

Woodiness :

woody

Physiology

The physiology of Liriodendron tulipifera is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway, which dictates its metabolic efficiency and carbon fixation processes. The leaf morphology plays a crucial role in its resource acquisition, with leaf dimensions showing significant variability; the leaf length typically ranges from a minimum of 7 cm to a maximum of 12 cm, maintaining a mean length of 9.5 cm. In terms of width, the foliage exhibits a highly consistent profile, with a minimum, mean, and maximum width all measured at 12 cm. These structural parameters contribute to a mean Specific Leaf Area (SLA) of 281.3 cm²/g, reflecting the plant's strategy for balancing light interception and leaf mass investment to optimize its physiological performance within its ecological niche.

Leaf length max:

12 cm

Leaf length mean:

9.5 cm

Leaf length min:

7 cm

Leaf width mean:

12 cm

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Specific Leaf Area (SLA) mean:

281.3 cm²/g

Reproduction

The reproduction of Liriodendron tulipifera is characterized by a specific flowering window that typically begins in May and concludes in June. Following pollination, the plant produces dry fruits that maintain a consistent length, with mean, minimum, and maximum measurements all recorded at approximately 7 cm. The resulting seeds exhibit a range of physical properties; while the seed volume is documented at a constant 60 mm³, the seed mass varies significantly, with a mean of approximately 0.0385 g, a minimum of 0.0091 g, and a maximum of 0.34 g. Dispersal of these seeds is facilitated through a dual syndrome, employing both anemochorous (wind-dispersed) and zoochorous (animal-dispersed) mechanisms to ensure successful propagation within its habitat.

Dispersal syndrome :

anemochorous

Dispersal syndrome :

zoochorous

Flowering time :

May

Flowering time :

Jun

Fruit dryness :

dry

Fruit length max:

7 cm

Seed mass max:

0.34 g

Seed mass mean:

0.0384605333333333 g

Seed mass min:

0.0091 g

Seed volume max:

60 mm³

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Liriodendron tulipifera has 1 reported plant parts identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include leaf.

Leaf

1. Biological & pharmaceutical bulletin

Chemicals

Liriodendron tulipifera has 13 reported phytochemicals identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include (+)-Dihydrodehydrodiconiferyl alcohol, (-)-sesamin, (-)-syringaresinol, 3-Hydroxy-4-methoxyacetophenone, BLUMENOL A.

(+)-Dihydrodehydrodiconiferyl alcohol

1. Biological & pharmaceutical bulletin

(-)-sesamin

1. Biological & pharmaceutical bulletin

(-)-syringaresinol

1. Biological & pharmaceutical bulletin

3-Hydroxy-4-methoxyacetophenone

1. Biological & pharmaceutical bulletin

BLUMENOL A

1. Biological & pharmaceutical bulletin

Costunolide

1. ACS omega

Dehydrocostus lactone

1. ACS omega

Laurenobiolide

1. ACS omega

Phenols

1. Pakistan journal of pharmaceutical sciences

Salvinal

1. Biological & pharmaceutical bulletin

Activities

Liriodendron tulipifera has 7 reported activities identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Anticancer, Antimalarial, Antimicrobial, Antioxidant, Antiproliferative.

Anticancer

1. Environmental science and pollution research international

Antimalarial

1. Environmental science and pollution research international

Antimicrobial

1. Environmental science and pollution research international

Antioxidant

1. Environmental science and pollution research international

Antiproliferative

1. Environmental science and pollution research international

Antiseptic

1. Scientific reports

Cytotoxic

1. Pakistan journal of pharmaceutical sciences

Conditions

Liriodendron tulipifera has 5 reported investigations on conditions identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported conditions include antimalarial, breast cancer, gastric cancer, liver fibrosis, wound infections.

Antimalarial

1. Environmental science and pollution research international

Breast cancer

1. Pakistan journal of pharmaceutical sciences

Gastric cancer

1. Pakistan journal of pharmaceutical sciences

Liver fibrosis

1. Biological & pharmaceutical bulletin

Wound infections

1. Scientific reports

Preparations

Liriodendron tulipifera has 4 reported preparations identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include Extracts, methanolic extract, poultices, teas.

Extracts

1. Scientific reports

Methanolic extract

1. Biological & pharmaceutical bulletin

Poultices

1. ACS omega

Teas

1. ACS omega