Magnolia tripetala
Magnolia grandiflora
umbrella magnolia, umbrella-tree
bull-bay, laurier tulipier, southern magnolia
and foliar buds glabrous.
and foliar buds densely red- or white-hairy.
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.
blade narrowly to broadly elliptic or oblanceolate, (7.5-)13-20(-26) × (4.5-)6-10(-12.5) cm, thick-leathery, base narrowly cuneate, apex abruptly tapered and acute to short-acuminate, rarely obtuse;
surfaces abaxially glabrous to densely red-brown felted, adaxially bright green, lustrous, glabrous.
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).
strongly lemony fragrant, 15-30(-45) cm across; spathaceous bracts 2, leathery, outer bract abaxially brown to grayish pilose, deeply notched, smaller, inner bract adaxially densely brown to grayish pilose, shallowly notched, larger;
tepals creamy white;
stamens (179-)213-383(-405), 16-29 mm;
filaments purple;
pistils (45-)55-81(-89).
lenticular to nearly ovoid, 9-12 mm, aril deep pink to red.
lenticular to narrowly ellipsoid, (9-)12-14 mm, adaxially slightly grooved, aril red.
homogeneous.
diaphragmed.
cylindric to ovoid-cylindric, 6-10 × 2-3.5 cm;
follicles long-beaked, glabrous.
cylindric to somewhat obovoid, 7-10 × 3.5-5 cm;
follicles beaked, sparsely to densely silky-villous.
=38.
=114.
Magnolia tripetala
Magnolia grandiflora
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.)
Magnolia grandiflora (a hexaploid) is highly variable, especially the leaves, which range from glabrous to densely red-brown felted on the abaxial surface. It is the only magnolia species in the flora with free stipules, and the inner spathaceous bract is unique among Magnolia taxa in the flora. Curled filiform trichomes occur on the abaxial leaf surface. In the wild, hybrids with M. virginiana (a diploid) have been reported but not confirmed by the present author. The compatibility of these taxa is well known from the Freeman hybrid, a highly sterile tetraploid growing at the U.S. National Arboretum in Washington, D.C. In crosses using the hexaploid M. grandiflora, this parent is dominant and nearly masks the other parent.
Magnolia grandiflora is an escape, and it naturalizes in the tidewater area of Virginia and locally elsewhere beyond its natural range in the southeastern United States. It ranks among the noblest of North American broadleaved trees and is cultivated widely in the United States and in many other countries. A large number of cultivars have been introduced to horticulture.
Southern magnolia (Magnolia grandiflora) is the state tree of both Louisiana and Mississippi.
The largest known tree of Magnolia grandiflora, 37.2m in height with a trunk diameter of 1.97m, is recorded from Smith County, Mississippi (American Forestry Association 1994).
The Choctaw and Koasati tribes used the bark of Magnolia grandiflora as dermatological and kidney aids (D.A. Moerman 1986).
(Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.)
MD Biodiversity
WildflowerSearch
iNaturalist
USDA Plants Database
LA Plants
