What is "liriodendron"

Liriodendron \Lir`i*o*den"dron\ (l[i^]r`[i^]*[-o]*d[e^]n"dr[o^]n), n.; pl. Liriodendra (-dr[.a]). [NL., fr. Gr. lei`rion lily + de`ndron tree.] (Bot.) A genus of large and very beautiful trees of North America, having smooth, shining leaves, and handsome, tuliplike flowers; tulip tree; whitewood; -- called also canoewood. Liriodendron tulipifera is the only extant species, but there were several others in the Cretaceous epoch.

Whitewood \White"wood`\, n. The soft and easily-worked wood of the tulip tree ( Liriodendron). It is much used in cabinetwork, carriage building, etc.

Note: Several other kinds of light-colored wood are called whitewood in various countries, as the wood of Bignonia leucoxylon in the West Indies, of Pittosporum bicolor in Tasmania, etc.

Whitewood bark. See the Note under Canella.

n. Any of several large North American trees, of the genus ''Liriodendron'', that have tulip-like flowers; especially ''Liriodendron tulipifera'', the tulip tree

Liriodendron is a genus of two species of characteristically large deciduous trees in the magnolia family ( Magnoliaceae).

These trees are widely known by the common name tulip tree or tuliptree for their large flowers superficially resembling tulips. The Latin Liriodendron actually means "lily tree",. The tulip tree is sometimes referred to as "tulip poplar" or "yellow poplar", and the wood simply as "poplar", although Liriodendron is not closely related to the true poplars, but is more closely related to magnolia trees. The tree is also called canoewood, saddle-leaf tree, and white wood.

Two species of Liriodendron are known to exist. Liriodendron tulipifera is native to eastern North America, while Liriodendron chinense is native to China and Vietnam. Both species often grow to great size, sometimes exceeding in height. The American species is commonly used horticulturally, and hybrids have been produced between these two allopatrically distributed species.

Various extinct species of Liriodendron have been described from the fossil record.

Liriodendron is a historic home and estate located at Bel Air, Harford County, Maryland, United States. It was the summer home of Laetitia and Dr Howard Kelly, a successful surgeon and founding member of the Johns Hopkins Medical College, and comprises the mansion named Liriodendron; the Graybeal-Kelly House; a c. 1835 bank barn; a c. 1898 carriage house; a c. 1850 board-and-batten cottage; and five other outbuildings including a corn crib, a smokehouse, two ice houses, and a shed. The -story, stuccoed brick mansion was designed by the Baltimore architectural firm of Wyatt and Nolting in the Georgian Revival style and constructed about 1898. The -story Georgian-style Graybeal-Kelly House, built about 1835, was the manor house for the farm until the mansion was constructed. It is used as a wedding, conference, and arts facility.

Liriodendron was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1980.