1. MAGNÒLIA, L.
Sepals 3. Petals 6–9. Stamens imbricated, with very short filaments, and long anthers opening inward. Pistils coherent, forming a fleshy and rather woody cone-like red fruit; each carpel at maturity opening on the back, from which the 1 or 2 berry-like seeds hang by an extensile thread composed of unrolled spiral vessels. Inner seed-coat bony.—Buds conical, the coverings formed of the successive pairs of stipules, each pair enveloping the leaf next above, which is folded lengthwise and applied straight against the side of the next stipular sheath, and so on. (Named after Magnol, Professor of Botany at Montpellier in the 17th century.)
[*] Leaves all scattered along the branches; leaf-buds silky.
1. M. glaùca, L. (Small or Laurel Magnolia. Sweet Bay.) Leaves oval to broadly lanceolate, 3–6´ long, obtuse, glaucous beneath; flower globular, white, 2´ long, very fragrant; petals broad; cone of fruit small, oblong.—Swamps, from near Cape Ann and N. Y. southward, near the coast; in Penn. as far west as Cumberland Co. June–Aug.—Shrub 4–20° high, with thickish leaves, which farther south are evergreen.
2. M. acuminàta, L. (Cucumber-tree.) Leaves thin, oblong, pointed, green and a little pubescent beneath, 5–10´ long; flower oblong bell-shaped, glaucous-green tinged with yellow, 2´ long; cone of fruit 2–3´ long, cylindrical.—Rich woods, western N. Y. to Ill., and southward. May, June.—Tree 60–90° high. Fruit when young slightly resembling a small cucumber, whence the common name.
3. M. macrophýlla, Michx. (Great-leaved Magnolia.) Leaves obovate-oblong, cordate at the narrowed base, pubescent and white beneath; flower open bell-shaped, white, with a purple spot at base; petals ovate, 6´ long; cone of fruit ovoid.—S. E. Ky. and southward. May, June.—Tree 20–40° high. Leaves 1–3° long, somewhat clustered on the flowering branches.
[*][*] Leaves crowded on the summit of the flowering branches in an umbrella-like circle; leaf-buds glabrous; flowers white, slightly scented.
4. M. Umbrélla, Lam. (Umbrella-tree.) Leaves obovate-lanceolate, pointed at both ends, soon glabrous, 1–2° long; petals obovate-oblong, 4–5´ long.—S. Penn. to Ky. and southward. May.—A small tree. Fruit rose-color, 4–5´ long, ovoid-oblong.
5. M. Fràseri, Walt. (Ear-leaved Umbrella-tree.) Leaves oblong-obovate or spatulate, auriculate at the base, glabrous, 8–20´ long; petals obovate-spatulate, with narrow claws, 4´ long.—Va. and Ky., along the Alleghanies, and southward. April, May.—A slender tree 30–50° high. Flower more graceful and cone of fruit smaller than in the preceding.
2. LIRIODÉNDRON, L. Tulip-tree.