TULIP (OF., Fr. tulipe, from tulipan, tulip, tulipant, tulpant, toliban, tolopan, turban, from Turk. tulband, dulband, from Pers. dulband, turban), Tulipa. A genus of showy hardy plants of the order Liliaccec, easily recognized by its fleshy brown-skinned bulbs, broad or linear leaves, and generally erect and usually solitary-flowered snipes. About 45 species are described, mostly natives of the wanner parts of Asia and South ern Europe. For several centuries the tulip has been a popular ornamental plant for spring and early summer flowering and has recently been used by florists for winter flowering. The species from whieh most of the cultivated varieties have been derived, Tulipa Ccsncriana, is a native of Asia Al inor and was brought from Constantinople to Germany by Conrad Cosner in 1559, since when innumerable varieties have been originated, 1800 varieties being offered by Dutch growers, who are the leading producers of these bulbs.
The cultivated varieties of tulips are classified by florists as to their color into 'selfs,' flowers of one solid color; 'bizarres,' flowers with a clear yellow base or centre with orange, red, crimson, and other markings; 'rose's,' flowers variegated with shades of rose, deep red, or scarlet; and `bybkemans,' flowers of dark colors such as lilac, purple, brown, and black. Several other species have given rise to cultivated varie ties, but to a much more limited extent. Talipa suarcolens, a native of Southeastern Europe, is the wild species from which the early red and orange Due van Thol tulips have been obtained.
They are inferior to the common garden tulip in beauty, but are prized for their fragrance and earliness. (See Colored Plate of Ltr,f