Saturday, May 06, 2006

virginia plant sightings

the tulip poplar

one of the trees our new heavenly hammock is attached to is a tall tree that has been dropping these crazy green and orange flowers. i finally identified it by clicking through the various trees on an awesome identification page. it is a tulip poplar or a tulip tree or a yellow poplar or a liriodendron tulipifera. perhaps i should have known this already but, as much as i love them, i can't seem to keep all the trees straight.

the tulip poplar tree is one of the tallest north eastern hardwood trees (up to 120 feet). the leaves actually have the tulip flower shape for which the tree is named. the flowers are showy green and orange cups full of creamy stamens. apparently they are very popular with the honey bees.

the wood is not very strong on the trees and from what i've read they fall easily in strong winds. watch out house.

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