Liriodendron tulipifera -L.-
yellow poplar, tulip tree, white poplar


Entry Type: Species

Species Name: Liriodendron tulipifera -L.-

Common Name: yellow poplar, tulip tree, white poplar

Myaamia Name: oonseentia

Description:

Harvest Seasons: Winter, Summer, Fall, Spring

Harvest Comments:

Habitats: Beech-Maple Forest, Oak Forest including Oak-Hickory, Beech-Oak-Maple Mixed Mesophytic, Deciduous Swamp no coniferous domts.

Uses: Customs, Technology

Locations: Undetermined

Sources

Filson, J. 1793

Reference Type: Use - Customs

Archival Data:

A poplar may have been the "tree of peace" mentioned by a Piankeshaw Chief in a meeting with Thomas Dalton in 1784, receiving a peace belt from the white men and hoping to reciprocate and form a more peaceful relationship. "We thus plant the tree of peace, that God may spread branches, so that we call all be secured from bad weather".

Comments: N/A

Pease, T. C. and R. C. Werner 1934

Reference Type: Use - Technology

Archival Data:

Wood used as a fishing pole. "I do not doubt that there are some [carp] even bigger [than 16 inches between the eyes], for one day a soldier of the garrison at that time among the Illinois, having gone fishing one night in a canoe, and having put out a big rock to anchor it, one of these brills [carp], finding itself caught on the hook, made such powerful efforts that it carried away the canoe, the rock, and the man. The soldier, seeing this, exerted all his strength and was pulling it toward him when, unhappily, the line broke. It was of whitewood bark, twisted thicker than one's thumb" ("je ne doute point qu'il n'y en aye meme de plus grosses, puis qu'un jour un soldat de la Garnison, qui etoit pour lors aux Illinois etant alle une nuit a cette pesche avec une pirogue et ayant mis une grosse Roche pour l'ancrer, une de ces Barbues se s'entant prise a l'amecon fit de si grands Efforts qu'elle ntraina la pirogue La Roche et L'homme a elle ce que le soldat voyant employa toutes ses forces Et l'attiroit a luy dans le temps que malheureusement la Corde Cassa, elle etoit d'ecorce de Bois blanc, traissee plus grosse que le poulce"). 

Comments: N/A

Aatotankiki myaamiaki 1998-2006

Reference Type: Use - Customs

Archival Data:

A yellow poplar was planted at the opening to a Miami Nation art exhibit at the Miami University Art Museum to honor Chief Leonard of the Miami Tribe of Oklahoma.

Comments: N/A

Kinietz, V. 1938

Reference Type: Use - Customs

Archival Data:

The white poplar tree was planted as a tree of peace.  "I have repeatedly questioned Le Gros [a Miami man, possibly the descendant of Chief Le Grosse, chief during the late 1600s, for which the village of Le Gros, along the Wabash, was named] about "trees of peace", . . . He says he never heard before that the Indians, in any instance, marked the boundaries of their hunting lands. "Yet," continues he, "Awaandeeoanee Tauwaunee (a peace tree) was once planted upon the St. Joseph’s, by the Chippeways, Ottawas, Potawatamies and Miamies. It was a white poplar. Under its branches a grand council was held, at which a general method of government was agreed upon for the respective nations, and to that effect certain fundamental laws were passed, which have been since immutable. There, a general alliance, offensive and defensive, was made, and although the tree be now physically dead, it yet lives green in the hearts of the Indians." I regret that Le Gros is unable to furnish me with the particulars of this very interesting tradition."

Comments: Trowbridge interviewed a man named Le Gros who was thought to be a descendant of Chief Le Grosse, who was chief of the Miamis during the late 1600s. – Michael Gonella

Miami Tribe of Oklahoma Archives

Reference Type: Use - Technology

Archival Data:

One of the original Miami allotment houses, the Drake House (Miami, Oklahoma) is sided with yellow poplar lapping, most likely from a local source.

Comments: N/A

Burns, N.L. 1938

Reference Type: Use - Technology

Archival Data:

Young shoots of hackberry, elm and poplar fed to livestock during hard times.

Comments: N/A

Gonella, M.P 2003-2006

Reference Type: Related Info

Archival Data:

Cultural use references referring to white poplar indicated the yellow poplar (Liriodendron tulipifera), as deduced by fact that the yellow poplar has been called white poplar because of its light and easily worked wood, and because the introduced white poplar (Populus alba) was not introduced until 1748, nor widespread before the 19th century, whereas traditions relating to peace were probably established long before this time.    

Comments: N/A

Dunn, J.P. ca. 1900

Reference Type: Related Info

Archival Data:

"oza'ndia poplar, liriodendron"

Comments: N/A

Gatschet, A.S. ca. 1895

Reference Type: Related Info

Archival Data:

"mal'lusandia, white poplar"

Comments: N/A

Gleason, H.A. and Cronquist, A. 1991

Reference Type: Habitat

Archival Data :

Occurs in rich woods in eastern Myaamia lands.

Comments: Yellow poplar was also known as white poplar, because of its light and easily worked wood. – Michael Gonella

Small, J.K. 1903

Reference Type: Habitat

Archival Data :

Occurs in swamps.

Comments: N/A

Trowbridge, C. 1824-5

Reference Type: Related Info

Archival Data:

"onngzandeear, poplar"

Comments: N/A

Gatschet, A.S. ca. 1895

Reference Type: Related Info

Archival Data:

"uzandiaxkwi, oonseentiaahkwi, or poplar"

Comments: N/A

Legends

  • L.: L. stands for Carl Linneaus, a Swedish botanist and zoologist living from 1707 - 1778, who formed the binomial nomenclature system for scientific naming of species (the two part name). His initial after a scientific name indicates he was the authority for that species name.
  • sp.: Indicates the actual species name cannot or need not be specified. Example: Lilium sp. indicates a single species in the genus Lilium that is not known or does not need to be specified.
  • spp.: (plural) indicates "several species", two or more species of the given genus. Example: Lilium spp. indicates 2 or more species in the genus that cannot or do not need to be distinguished.
  • Use - Unknown: A record for this plant exists but does not include explicit information about the plant's cultural use. It is probable the Myaamia used the plant.
  • Botanical Sources: Sources of any botanical data for this plant species that is not related to its cultural use or significance.
  • Related Sources: Data indirectly related to Myaamia ethnobotany, including non-Myaamia uses of the plant in contemporary and historic times.
  • Myaamia Archival Sources: All records of plant use obtained directly from a Myaamia tribal member in an interview, recorded by a second party or by self-recording.
  • Undetermined (Plant Use): There exists use or other information about a certain, unknown plant species, but the specific species has not yet been determined.
  • Medicinal: For the purposes of this database, medicinal uses of plants and medicinal knowledge are defined as: Commonly held communal knowledge regarding the use of plant-based substances that aid in maintaining a healthy mind, body or spirit, including tonics and teas.
  • Technology: For the purposes of this database, technological uses of plants are defined as: Plants used in the making of food processing, canoes, rafts, dyes, tools, utensils, weapons, hunting and fishing gear (i.e. net, weir, etc.), cordage, string, rope, fodder plant species, firewood, any plants used in trade, etc.
  • Material: For the purposes of this database, material uses of plants are defined as: Plants used in construction of dwellings (floor mats, roofing, side walls), furniture, baskets, storage items, musical instruments, games, crafts, jewelry, cordage used in crafts, etc.
  • Food: For the purposes of this database, food uses of plants are defined as: Plants used as consumed food, spices and seasonings, but not teas or tonics.
  • Customs: For the purposes of this database, customary uses of plants are defined as: Plants involved in a customary ceremony, ritual or traditional event, including ritual smoking, chewing tobacco, war rituals, special mats used to sit on during ceremonies. Customary uses of plants, in this database, does not including plants used for recreation (material), structures where ceremonies take place (material) or medicinal smoking (medicinal).
  • Eastern Myaamia Lands: Eastern Myaamia lands (eastern myaamionki) are centered around northern Indiana, and including western Ohio, eastern Illinois, southern Michigan, and the northernmost portions of Kentucky.
  • Western Myaamia Lands: Western Myaamia lands (western myaamionki) include western Kansas and northeastern Oklahoma.