This ornamental flower species hides an unexpected secret.
A recent study published by biochemists from Jagiellonian University (Poland) and Cambridge University (UK) reveals that findings related to the tulip tree could pave the way for developing new carbon storage methods.
The wood of the tulip tree (scientific name: Liriodendron) is neither hardwood nor softwood. It is classified as intermediate wood, and its properties have only recently been uncovered in a study (Photo: Wikipedia).
“Both species of tulip trees are known for their remarkable ability to isolate and sequester carbon,” explained Łyczakowski, the lead researcher. “Their large fiber structure is like a natural adaptation, allowing them to easily interact with high amounts of carbon in the atmosphere.”
Looking back at history, around 30 to 50 million years ago, the levels of carbon dioxide in Earth’s atmosphere dropped rapidly. At that time, two species of tulip trees (scientific names: Liriodendron tulipifera and Liriodendron chinense) thrived.
The researchers believe this is not a coincidence. The tulip trees likely played a significant role in balancing carbon levels in the atmosphere.
After dissecting the secondary cell structures of the wood using scanning electron microscopy (cryo-SEM), the research team discovered a characteristic large fiber structure known as “macrofibril.”
This may help explain why tulip trees are so effective in capturing carbon.
A tulip tree in the Cambridge University Botanic Garden (Photo: Kathy Grube).
It is known that these secondary cell structures appear after the primary cell structures have formed, serving to reinforce the tree’s structure. They also contain the majority of the tree’s biomass.
In addition to discovering this new type of wood, the researchers also found two species of gymnosperms from the genus Gnetum (also known as gnetophytes) that share the same secondary cell structure as woody, angiosperms.
This suggests that angiosperms (flowering plants) and gymnosperms (seed-producing plants) have more in common than we might think, and the differences between them are not always clear-cut.
According to Łyczakowski, these discoveries carry significant implications across various fields, from biology to engineering.
Thus, the secondary cell structures of wood directly impact the density and strength of the wood used in construction.
They also represent the largest carbon storage systems in Earth’s biosphere, playing a crucial role in promoting carbon sequestration programs that help mitigate climate change.
