Magnolia macrophylla
Magnolia tripetala
bigleaf magnolia
umbrella magnolia, umbrella-tree
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 elliptic-oblong to narrowly obovate, or oblanceolate, (10-)26-57(-70) × (7.2-)10-30 cm, thin, broadest near middle, base cuneate to long-tapered, apex very short to long-acuminate or abruptly acute, rarely apiculate;
surfaces abaxially densely pilose, especially on midvein, adaxially green, glabrous.
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.
malodorous, 5.5-11 cm across; spathaceous bracts 2, abaxially glandular;
tepals spreading, creamy white, outermost whorl sepaloid, reflexed, greenish;
stamens 81-103(-115), 8-17 mm;
filaments purple;
pistils (45-)53-66(-73).
± ovoid, 10-12 mm, pointed, aril orange-red.
lenticular to nearly ovoid, 9-12 mm, aril deep pink to red.
homogeneous.
homogeneous.
globose-ovoid, 5-8 × 5-7 cm;
follicles short-beaked, distally appressed silky-pubescent.
cylindric to ovoid-cylindric, 6-10 × 2-3.5 cm;
follicles long-beaked, glabrous.
=38.
=38.
Magnolia macrophylla
Magnolia tripetala
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.)
In Virginia Magnolia tripetala is a disjunct in the coastal plain.
The malodorous flowers of Magnolia tripetala are uniquely associated with this species. The tree is occasionally cultivated. Both filiform and flagelliform trichomes occur on the leaves. Sometimes cylindric trichomes also occur.
The largest known tree of Magnolia tripetala, 15.2m in height with a trunk diameter of 87 cm, is recorded from Bucks County, Pennsylvania (American Forestry Association 1994).
(Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.)
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