Links to the American Beech webpage.  
 

Wood & Charcoal Identification
in Southern Maryland


Tulip Poplar/Yellow Poplar

Tulip Poplar/Yellow Poplar (Liriodendron tulipifera/Magnoliaceae). The genus Liriodendron is composed of two species, (L. tulipifera) (Yellow poplar from North America and L. chinensis from China). Both species are identical at the cellular level.

Tulip Poplar is native to the eastern United States. The trees reach heights of 160 ft with diameters of 8 ft. The of Tulip Poplar sapwood is white and heartwood is a light brown, but can range in color (especially after exposure to air and time) from greenish brown to dark green, purple, black, blue and yellow. The wood of Tulip Poplar has a straight grain, with a uniform texture and light weight. It is below average in specific gravity and most physical and mechanical properties. Tulip poplar is one of the easiest of all hardwoods to work by hand and with machine tools. It is used for dimension stock, furniture, gunstocks, hat blocks, interior finish, lumber, musical instruments, novelties, pallets, particle board, plywood, pulpwood, shipping crates, slack cooperage, sporting goods, toys and veneer.

http://www2.fpl.fs.fed.us/TechSheets/HardwoodNA/pdf_files/lirioeng.pdf.


Characteristics found in the Tulip Poplar (Liriodendron spp.):

  • Diffuse porous
  • Scalariform perforations (6-10)
  • IV pits medium (8-12)
  • Rays 1-4 seriate & heterocellular

WOOD SLIDES
Click on each image to view a larger image.

CHARCOAL SLIDES

 

 
 

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Maryland Archaeological Conservation Lab