Greek lireion—lily, dendron—tree.

Deciduous, conical trees. Bark on old trees fissured. Branchlets with chambered pith. Buds covered by 2 stipules which are joined at the margins and have a powdery surface. Leaves alternate, usually with 4-6 lobes, 2 of which form a distinctive notched apex. Flowers cup-like, slightly reminiscent of tulip flowers (hence the common name), terminal, solitary with 3 petal-like spreading sepals and 6 upright petals, appearing with the leaves. Stamens many. Carpels many, free. Fruit cone-like, seed shed in winged pairs.

A valuable timber tree in North America where it is called White Wood.

Stratified seed; cultivars by layering, budding and grafting.

Leaves with 1 pointed lobe each side of the tip; flowers cup-shaped.

2 species, 1 in North America the other in China and northern Indo-China.

Santamour (1972), Parks (1983), Santamour & McArdle (1984), Chen & Nooteboom (1993).

Source: Spencer, R. (1997). Magnoliaceae. In: Spencer, R.. Horticultural Flora of South-eastern Australia. Volume 2. Flowering plants. Dicotyledons. Part 1. The identification of garden and cultivated plants. University of New South Wales Press.