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Key to Liriodendron

Magnoliaceae

Liriodendron

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1 Fruiting axis ("lance") (34-) avg. 38 (-42) mm long; stamen apex acute to apiculate; tree producing pencil-like pneumatophores; mature leaves of fertile branches small to medium, 4-lobed, the terminal lobes obtuse, broadly rounded to acuminate, though when acuminate the ultimate tip minutely blunt, the base cuneate, rounded, or truncate; [peninsular FL]
(c) Bradley, Keith
(c) Ward, Scott G
(c) Ward, Scott G
1 Fruiting axis ("lance") (42-) avg. 44-53 (-60) mm long (see below); stamen apex rounded, truncate, or retuse; tree never producing pneumatophores; mature leaves of fertile branches small to large (see below), 0-8-lobed, the terminal lobes (acute to acuminate, and often terminating in an apiculum, the base cordate to broadly cuneate; [collectively widespread].
(c) Ward, Scott G
(c) Ward, Scott G
  2 Mature leaves of fertile branches smaller, 0-4-lobed (sun leaves), the terminal lobes obtuse, broadly rounded to acuminate, though when acuminate the ultimate tip minutely blunt, the base cuneate, rounded, or truncate; fully-developed tepals 3.0-4.0 cm long; aggregate fruit (samaracetum) {< 6} cm long at maturity; stamens < 32; [of the Coastal Plain, especially fire-maintained, wetland, acidic, saturated, peaty/sandy sites]
(c) Ward, Scott G - CC-BY
(c) Weakley, Alan - CC-BY-NC, permission granted to NCBG
(c) Bradley, Keith
  2 Mature leaves of fertile branches larger, 4-8-lobed (sun leaves), the terminal lobes acute to acuminate, and often terminating in an apiculum, the base cordate to broadly cuneate; fully-developed tepals 4.5-5+ cm long; aggregate fruit (samaracetum) {usually > 6} cm long at maturity; stamens mostly > 30; [of the Mountains, Piedmont, and Coastal Plain (in the Coastal Plain, especially along brownwater rivers and on mesic bluffs and slopes)]