China tuliptree. /Photo courtesy of CGTN Nature film crew
The China tuliptree is endemic to China. It is thus called because the flowers resemble the tulip.
Also, the leaves are in the shape of the Chinese jacket, hence another common name "Magua Mu", literally "Chinese jacket tree" in Chinese.
Leaves of the China tuliptree. /VCG Photo
The genus has a history of over 100 million years. It had a wide distribution in the North Hemisphere during the Tertiary Period. After the Quaternary glaciation, they only grow in southern China and North America.
Leaves of the China tuliptree. /VCG Photo
The species inhabits mountainous forests or forest margins at an altitude of 900-1,000 meters.
With a low germination rate, it is also threatened by deforestation.
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(Cover photo is taken by CGTN Nature film crew, designed by CGTN's Fan Chenxiao)
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