Liriodendron tulipifera Linnaeus var. chinense Hemsley, J. Linn. Soc., Bot. 23: 25. 1886; L. tulipifera var. sinense Diels.

Trees, to 40 m tall, to 1 m d.b.h. Twigs gray to grayish brown. Petiole 4-8(-16) cm; leaf blade 4-12(-18) × 3-9.5(-23) cm, membranous to papery, abaxially glaucous, base truncate to slightly cordate and with 1 lateral lobe near base of each side, apex 2-lobed. Flowers cupular. Tepals 9; outer 3 tepals green, sepal-like, curved and outwardly pendulous; tepals of inner 2 whorls green with yellow striations, erect, petal-like, obovate, 3-4 cm. Filaments 5-6 mm; anthers 1-1.6 cm. Gynoecium exceeding tepals at anthesis; carpels yellowish green. Fruit 7-9 cm; nutlets ca. 6 mm, winged, apex obtuse to mucronate, 1- or 2-seeded. Fl. May, fr. Sep-Oct. 2n = 38.

This species is used for timber and grown as an ornamental. It is a rare and endangered species composed of small populations or scattered individuals.

Forests; 900-1000 m. Anhui, Chongqing, Fujian, Guangxi, Guizhou, Hubei, Hunan, Jiangxi, Shaanxi, SE Sichuan, Yunnan, Zhejiang [N Vietnam].