Species Guide All text and photographs © 1996,1997 Thomas W. Kimmerer
	Family: Magnoliaceae Genera: LiriodendronMagnolia
	The following species are discussed in this guide:
	yellow-poplar Liriodendron tulipifera	cucumbertree Magnolia acuminata
	Southern magnolia Magnolia grandiflora	bigleaf magnolia Magnolia macrophylla
	umbrella magnolia Magnolia tripetala

The State Tree of Kentucky

Species	yellow-poplarLiriodendron tulipifera
Species Name	tulip-bearing, both for the shape of the leaves and the large flowers.
Sites and Soils	Yellow-poplar occurs on rich, mesic disturbed sites, from broad bottomlands to coves and lower slopes, occasionally on more xeric uplands after disturbance. It can be found on a wide range of soil types and slope positions, but best development is on mesic lower slopes and coves on neutral to slightly acidic soils.
Ecology	Yellow-poplar is a pioneer species of rich disturbed sites, and most often occurs in pure stands, or in mixture with other rich-site species. Its present dominance in the Appalachians can be attributed largely to the abandonment of agricultural land on steep slopes, which were immediately colonized by yellow-poplar. This was particularly true of land farmed for corn. Yellow-poplar is moderately intolerant, and is quickly shaded out on all but the best sites, where it will outgrow any other species. It is very susceptible to fire damage, and large trees do not sprout well. Moderate disturbance and low-intensity fire generally favor other species.
Life History	Yellow-poplar flowers prolifically in June, and is pollinated by bees. Despite the abundance of honeybees on yellow-poplar trees, fertilization is very poor, with some seed lots having <2% viabile embryos (see Interactions). Seeds are borne in erect "cones" which break apart during the winter and the seeds are carried on the wind. Seeds germinate the following spring, or, more often, enter the seed bank where they may remain for many years. Despite the low seed viability of most seed lots, the enormous amount of yellow-poplar seeds in the seed bank assures adequate stocking of heavily disturbed sites. Germination is stimulated by high light intensity, and early growth is very rapid. Yellow-poplar is exceptionally fast growing, reaching 10 feet in three years, and 120 feet within 40-50 years. Yellow-poplar is the tallest hardwood tree in the Eastern Deciduous Forest, commonly reaching 120'x4' (Champion 146'x10'; it is likely that taller individuals, up to 200', could be found prior to European settlement).
Interactions	Yellow-poplar is VA mycorrhizal, and insect pollinated. It is presently pollinated almost exclusively by honeybees (Apis mellifera), an imported species. Its native pollinators are not known. Honeybees tend to work large patches of flowers without moving between patches when nectar flow is good. A single yellow-poplar may have thousands of flowers, representing a large patch, so honeybees may not be very effective at carrying pollen between trees. Since yellow-poplar is self-incompatible (pollen from one tree cannot fertilize flowers of the same tree), this behavioral pattern of honeybees may severely limit the fertilization of yellow-poplar flowers. Whether this is the explanation for the low seed viability of yellow-poplar is not known. Yellow-poplar is not an important browse species, and the seeds are eaten by only a few animals, notably purple finch, cardinal and gray and red squirrels. Yellow-poplar has many insect pests and pathogens, but few are serious. Gypsy moth will not eat yellow-poplar nor will other generalist herbivores. The resistance of yellow-poplar to generalist pests and pathogens can be attributed to the high alkaloid content of all plant parts; alkaloids are rare in temperate trees. Yellow-poplar wood is not decay resistant; basal wounds due to fire or logging damage result in rapid decay and death from mechanical break-up. Damaged trees should be salvaged as early as possible in commercial stands.
Status	Abundant, increasing with abandonment of farmland in the Eastern Deciduous Forest, especially in the Appalachians, Piedmont and Cumberland and Alleghany Plateaus.
Range	Eastern Deciduous Forest except New England, Northern Lake States. Does not extend into the Plains Extension.
Kentucky status	Abundant; Increasing with abandonment of farmland throughout the state, though less common in the Bluegrass. Yellow-poplar was abundant prior to European settlement, declined drastically due to clearing of land by settlers, then increased dramatically once again as that land was abandoned. There was a peak in industrial logging of yellow-poplar from 1880-1900, and again beginning in 1994 and extending into the future. It will take hard work and citizen interest to ensure that the current peak is sustainable, and not another typical boom-and-bust logging cycle. Michaux (1810) considered yellow-poplar the glory of the forest, and stated that it was at its most magnificent in Kentucky.
Kentucky range	Entire state
Uses	Yellow-poplar is an important commercial species because of the huge amount of clear lumber obtained from a single tree. The wood is soft and workable. The yellow-green color of the heartwood (due to alkaloids) is considered unattractive, and yellow-poplar is not a fine furniture species. Uses include interiors of upholstered furniture, plywood cores, and, increasingly, composite products. Yellow-poplar produces abundant, dark, strongly flavored honey, prized by some and loathed by others
Ornamental use	Yellow-poplar is a stately, beautiful ornamental for large sites. It is not a suitable street tree. In urban areas, yellow-poplar suffers from a number of leaf diseases and insects, especially aphids. While not serious to the tree, these reduce ornamental value, particularly when aphids drip honeydew onto cars, or when sooty mold fungi grow on the honeydew. Leaf yellowing is a physiologic disorder, due to high pH or low nitrogen availability. Yellow-poplar is the most nitrogen-demanding of all trees.
Notes

Species	cucumbertreeMagnolia acuminata
Species Name	acuminate
Sites and Soils	Cucumbertree is a species of mesic sites, especially coves and lower slopes, on well-drained slightly acidic soils.
Ecology	Cucumbertree is a scattered tree in mixture with yellow-poplar, northern red oak, white oak, sugar maple, blackgum, beech and ash. Never abundant, it is restricted almost exclusively to the richest sites. Intermediate in tolerance, cucumbertree is a gap-phase species.
Life History	Cucumbertree flowers discretely in early summer, and the fruit, an aggregate of follicles, ripens in late fall, releasing its seeds almost immediately. Fruits are eaten and seeds dispersed by birds, and they germinate the following spring, or, more commonly, enter the seed bank where they may remain for decades. Seeds germinate after disturbance, when light intensity on the forest floor is high. Growth is rapid, nearly as fast as yellow-poplar, with typical maximum height of 90'x4' (Champion 75'x7.7'; trees of 125'x7' probably occured prior to European settlement).
Interactions	Cucumbertree is honeybee pollinated; its native pollinators are not known. VA mycorrhizal. Wildlife use is low, with the seeds a minor food source for songbirds and small mammals. Cucumbertree has few pests and pathogens. The wood is very easily decayed, and basal wounds from fire or logging can lead to rapid decline.
Status	common; increased since abandonment of farmland.
Range	The range of cucumbertree suggests that it is often a relict species left behind in patches as migration occurred following the last glaciation. It occurs thoroughout the Appalachians and the Cumberland and Alleghany Plateaus, and at scattered locales in the south and midwest, from Georgia to Oklahoma and Indiana.
Kentucky status	common; increased since abandonment of farmland
Kentucky range	Cumberland Plateau and Cumberland Mountains, occasional in the Highland Rim.
Uses	Minor. Wood is combined with yellow-poplar, but the tree is nowhere abundant enough to be important. Ornamental
Ornamental use	Cucumbertree is a fine ornamental for large sites. When grown in the open, it is elegantly shaped: pyramidal when young, maturing with a huge bole and canopy. A number of cultivars and hybrids are used in the nursery industry.
Notes

Southern magnolia, Magnolia grandiflora to be added

Species	bigleaf magnoliaMagnolia macrophylla
Species Name	large leaves.
Sites and Soils	Bigleaf magnolia occurs in rich mesic woods: coves, ravines, lower slopes; on moderately acidic soils.
Ecology	Bigleaf magnolia is a scattered tree usually in the understory of rich mesic woods, but occasionally as a tall overstory tree. Bigleaf magnolia, along with Fraser and umbrella magnolias, is an indicator species of rich mesic sites. It is shade tolerant, and very sensitive to drought and fire.
Life History	Bigleaf magnolia flowers in early summer and bears fruits in fall. Its life history characters are similar to those of other magnolias (see cucumbertree), except that it rarely lives more than 100 years, and most individuals live no more than 40 years. Typical 30'x6"; Champion 105'x21' (Tight Hollow, Daniel Boone National Forest, Kentucky).
Interactions	See cucumbertree
Status	infrequent; probably stable. Reduced by conversion of coves to agricultural land shortly after settlement, recovered since abandonment of farm lands.
Range	Southern Appalachians and Cumberland Plateau, interior lowlands; Kentucky to Alabama, with fewer individuals in Western North Carolina, Georgia, Louisiana; disjunct populations in South Carolina.
Kentucky status	common; stable. Reduced by conversion of coves to agricultural land shortly after settlement, recovered since abandonment of farm lands.
Kentucky range	Cumberland Plateau and Cumberland Mountains; disjunct population in Green River Valley in Edmonson County.
Uses	None
Ornamental use	Not used except as a specimen tree in arboreta. Not well suited to landscape use.
Notes	This species has the largest simple leaves of any tree in the North American flora.

Species	umbrella magnoliaMagnolia tripetala
Species Name	three petals (a misnomer, as magnolias have many petals)
Sites and Soils	Umbrella magnolia occurs in rich mesic woods: coves, ravines, lower slopes; on moderately acidic soils.
Ecology	Umbrella magnolia is a scattered tree usually in the understory of rich mesic woods, but occasionally as a tall overstory tree. Umbrella magnolia, along with Fraser and bigleaf magnolias, is an indicator species of rich mesic sites. It is shade tolerant, and very sensitive to drought and fire.
Life History	Umbrella magnolia flowers in early summer and bears fruits in fall. Its life history characters are similar to those of other magnolias (see cucumbertree), except that it rarely lives more than 100 years, and most individuals live no more than 40 years. It is the smallest of the three understory magnolias (umbrella, Fraser, bigleaf) Typical 25'x4"; Champion 50'x35"; it is likely that taller trees exist.
Interactions	See cucumbertree
Status	Infrequent; probably stable. Reduced by conversion of coves to agricultural land shortly after settlement; recovered since abandonment of farm lands.
Range	Southern; Pennsylvania to Mississippi, W. to Oklahoma
Kentucky status	common; stable. Reduced by conversion of coves to agricultural land shortly after settlement, recovered since abandonment of farm lands.
Kentucky range	Cumberland Mountains, Cumberland Plateau, Eastern Highland Rim (Pennyrile).
Uses	None
Ornamental use	Not suitable
Notes