BOTANICAL AND ECOLOGICAL CHARACTERISTICS
SPECIES: Liriodendron tulipifera | Yellow-Poplar 



GENERAL BOTANICAL CHARACTERISTICS : 
Yellow-poplar is a tall, deciduous, long-lived, broadleaf tree.  The
leaves are alternate with a distinctive tuliplike shape.  In forest
stands yellow-poplar is one of the straightest and tallest trees, with
approximately 66 percent of the bole free of lateral branches [1,2].  It
can reach heights of 200 feet (61 m) and a dbh greater than 10 feet (3
m) [13].  The flowers are tuliplike in size and shape [1,2,11].  The
fruit is a conelike structure consisting of many winged samaras on a
central stalk [2].


RAUNKIAER LIFE FORM : 
   Phanerophyte


REGENERATION PROCESSES : 
Yellow-poplar is mainly insect pollinatied, with some selfing.  It a
prolific seed producer.  It first produces seed at 15 to 20 years of age
and continues to do so for more than 200 years [1].  Heavy seed crops
tend to compensate for low seed viability (around 5-20 percent) [26].
The samaras are wind dispersed to distances 4 and 5 times the height of
the parent tree.  The samaras remain viable in the seedbank for up to 8
years [5,16,19].  Seeds require a cold stratification period, and
germination rates vary with time and temperature.  Generally as
temperature decreases and time increases the germination rate increases;
for example, 90 percent germination occurred after 140 days at 36
degrees Fahrenheit (2 deg C) [1,3].  Germination is epigeal and occurs
when seeds remain constantly moist for several weeks [3,5].  Germination
is enhanced on mineral soil or on well-decomposed humus [2].

Yellow-poplar sprouts from dormant buds located on the root crown after
cutting and/or fire.  Sprouting decreases with age, as the bark becomes
too thick for the bud to break through [2,16].  Initially sprout growth
surpasses seedling growth, but at 25 to 35 years seedling regeneration
height catches and surpasses sprout regeneration height [2].


SITE CHARACTERISTICS : 
Yellow-poplar grows best on north and east aspects, lower slopes,
sheltered coves, and gentle concave slopes [1,27].

Soils:  Growth is best on moderately deep loams that are moderately
moist, well drained, and loose texured [1,27].

Associated species:  Overstory associates include baldcypress (Taxodium
distichum), tupelo (Nyssa spp.), loblolly pine (Pinus taeda), shortleaf
pine (P. echinata), eastern white pine (P. strobus), oaks (Quercus
spp.), white ash (Fraxinus americana), American beech (Fagus
grandifolia), black walnut (Juglans nigra), and hickory (Carya spp.)
[1,2].

Climate:  Yellow-poplar grows under a variety of climatic conditions due
its broad geographic distribution.  The average rainfall varies from 30
to 80 inches (760-2030 mm), and the number of frost-free days varies from
150 to 310 days [1].

Elevation:  Yellow-poplar grows near sea level in Florida to 4,500 feet
(1,364 m) in the Appalachian Mountains [3].


SUCCESSIONAL STATUS : 
Obligate Initial Community Species

Yellow-poplar is a shade-intolerant, pioneer species.  It often invades
open sites, and in oldfield succession it occurs in pure or nearly pure
stands [1,16].


SEASONAL DEVELOPMENT : 
Yellow poplar flowers from April to June; seeds mature from August to
late October.  Peak samara dispersal is from October to November, with a
few falling as late as March [2,26].

Related categories for Species: Liriodendron tulipifera | Yellow-Poplar