Trees, deciduous. Bark grayish white, longitudinally fissured, falling off in small masses. Winter buds ovoid, surrounded by 2 connate stipules. Stipules free from petiole. Leaves spirally arranged, folded and pendulous in buds; petiole long; leaf blade with 1 or 2 lateral lobes near base, apex truncate to emarginate. Flowers terminal, solitary, bisexual, not fragrant, appearing at same time as leaves. Tepals 9, in 3 whorls, subequal. Anthers dehiscing extrorsely. Gynoecium sessile; carpels many, spirally arranged, distinct, basal ones sterile; ovules 2 per carpel, pendulous. Fruit fusiform; mature carpels woody, falling off from torus when matured; testa fused with endocarp, apex elongated winglike; torus persistent. Seeds 1 or 2 per carpel; testa thin and dry.

The North American species Liriodendron tulipifera Linnaeus is cultivated as a garden plant in E China.

Two species: E Asia and E North America; one species in China.