Magnolia macrophylla
Magnolia pyramidata
bigleaf magnolia
pyramid magnolia
yellowish to gray, smooth.
gray, smooth.
and foliar buds silky-pubescent.
and foliar buds glabrous.
blade broadly elliptic to obovate-oblong, 50-110 × 15-30 cm, base truncate to deeply cordate or auriculate, apex acute to short-acuminate or obtuse;
surfaces abaxially chalky white, sometimes pale green to glaucous, pilose, adaxially deep green, glabrous.
blade predominantly pandurate to broadly rhombic-spatulate, broadest above middle, abruptly tapering to base, 18-25(-30) × 7.8-14 cm, base deeply cordate to auriculate, or somewhat truncate, apex acute to short-acuminate;
surfaces abaxially glaucous, glabrous, adaxially dull deep green.
solitary, fragrant, 35-40(-50) cm across; spathaceous bracts 2, outer bract abaxially rusty gray, inner bract thinner, glabrous;
tepals creamy white, glandular, innermost whorl purple-blotched at base, outermost segments strongly reflexed, greenish;
stamens (300-)350-580, 12.5-24.5 mm;
filaments white;
pistils 50-80.
fragrant, 12-18 cm across; spathaceous bracts 2, abaxially glandular;
tepals creamy white;
stamens 83-137(-150), 4.5-8(-10.5) mm;
filaments white;
pistils 36-60.
± ovoid, 10-12 mm, pointed, aril orange-red.
lenticular, 7-8 mm, aril red.
homogeneous.
homogeneous.
globose-ovoid, 5-8 × 5-7 cm;
follicles short-beaked, distally appressed silky-pubescent.
ellipsoid, 4-6 × 2.5-3.5 cm, glabrous;
follicles recurved, short-beaked, glabrous.
=38.
=38.
Magnolia macrophylla
Magnolia pyramidata
The disposition of Magnolia macrophylla and its close relative M. ashei has been perplexing since M. ashei was described. Some investigators have treated them as geographic varieties or subspecies, and this has some questionable merit. In the foliar state M. macrophylla is hardly, if at all, distinguishable from M. ashei, but in other morphologic details of flower and fruit, they are readily distinguished. They also differ in the floral odors, which are distinct and chemically different (L.B. Thien et al. 197). Magnolia macrophylla and M. ashei are allopatric. Magnolia macrophylla is a much larger, usually single-trunked tree of the piedmont with a wider distribution, larger leaves, more stamens, larger stipules, and both filiform and flagelliform trichomes on the leaves. The follicetum is nearly globose-ovoid, with more pistils and larger seeds. Magnolia macrophylla produces the largest leaves and flowers of any species of the genus.
In Arkansas Magnolia macrophylla was known from a single disjunct locality in Clay County, where only two trees were recorded in 1981 (R.B. Figlar 1981). A survey in 1995 failed to locate the species in the same site.
This handsome tree is occasionally cultivated. A close relative, M. dealbata Zuccarini, occurs in Mexico.
The largest known tree of Magnolia macrophylla, 32m in height with a trunk diameter of 53 cm, is recorded from Daniel Boone National Forest, Tight Hollow, Kentucky (American Forestry Association 1994).
The Cherokee tribe used Magnolia macrophylla, mainly the bark, as an analgesic, antidiarrheal, gastrointestinal aid, respiratory aid, and toothache remedy (D.E. Moerman 1986).
(Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.)
Confined largely to the coastal plain, Magnolia pyramidata differs from the allopatric M. fraseri in being a smaller tree with a narrower, pyramidal habit; M. pyramidata is very local and nowhere abundant. Morphologically, M. pyramidata differs from M. fraseri in the pandurate leaf blades, smaller flowers and stipules, fewer stamens and pistils, and smaller follicetums. Magnolia pyramidata is occasionally cultivated, but it is less hardy than M. fraseri.
The largest known tree of Magnolia pyramidata, 11.9m in height with a trunk diameter of 69 cm, is recorded from Newton County, Texas (American Forestry Association 1994).
(Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.)
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