392 WILSON EXPEDITION TO CHINA 
et 5.5-6 cm. diam.; carpella matura lignea, monosperma, valvis 
rectangulari-rhombicis 2-2.5 em. altis et 1.2-1.5 cm. longis margine 
exteriore truncatis supra breviter rostratis rostro 2-3 mm. longo, 
infra vix v. non rostratis; semina obovoidea, apice rotundata, circiter 
12 mm. longa et 10 mm. lata, compressa, testa interiore nigrescente, 
ventre leviter suleata. 
Western Hupeh: north and south of Ichang, cultivated, alt. 300- 
1300 m., May 11 and October 1907 (No. 652, type); without locality, 
May 1900 (Veiteh Exped. No. 371); without locality, A. Henry (No. 
5389). Szech’uan: without locality, A. Henry (No. 53899). 
This species has been confused with M. obovata Thunberg (M. hypoleuca Siebold 
& Zuccarini) and naturally enough, as the foliage of the two species is identical. 
But with the complete material before us it becomes obvious that they are distinct, 
if closely related, species. The Japanese species has purplish bark; staminal 
and carpellary column 4 cm. or more long, acutish at the summit; the filaments 
9-15 mm. long, anthers 16-18 mm. long; fruit cylindrical, 13-20 cm. long, 4.5- 
5.5 em. wide, somewhat pointed at the apex and attenuate at the base; ripe car- 
pels with long, usually slightly recurved beaks and rather thin walls. If these 
characters are compared with those of the Chinese species it will be seen that the 
differences, if few, are of relatively great importance, particularly those of the fruit 
which is ovoid-oblong in the new species, truncate at the apex and rounded at the 
base, the lowest carpels being rounded at the base, not decurrent as in M. ob- 
ovata. The different color of the bark enables the trees to be distinguished at 
any season of the year. The Chinese species is in cultivation at Kew and else- 
where and comparisons between specimens of the Japanese and Chinese trees will 
probably result in the discovery of other differences. 
Magnolia officinalis is very commonly cultivated on the mountains of western 
Hupeh and Szech’uan, but we have not met with a spontaneous tree in the forests. 
This same remark would apply to many other trees of economic value (Gleditsia 
and Eucommia, for example) and we do not doubt that these and the Magnolia 
are truly natives of this region. This new Magnolia does not grow to as large 
a size as its Japanese relative, though the flowers and foliage are equally hand- 
some. The Chinese designate this species the “ Hou-p'o " tree, and its bark and 
flower-buds constitute a valued drug which is exported in quantity from central 
and western China to all parts of the Empire. It is for its bark and flower-buds 
that the tree is cultivated. The removal of the bark causes the death of the tree 
and this would account for its disappearance from the forests. The bark when 
boiled yields an extract which is taken internally as a cure for coughs, colds, and 
as a tonic and stimulant during convalescence. A similar extract obtained from 
the flower-buds, which are called ** Yu-p’o,” is esteemed as a medicine for women. 
A picture of this tree will be found under No. 582 of the collection of Wilson’s 
photographs and also in his Vegetation of Western China, No. 308. : 
This is in all probability the plant referred to as Talauma sp.? by Franchet in 
Nouv. Arch. Mus. Paris, sér. 2, VIII. 193 (Pl. David. II. 11) (1886). 
Magnolia officinalis, var. biloba Rehder & Wilson, n. var. 
A typo recedit foliis apice profunde emarginatis v. bilobis sinu 
2-3 em. alto. 
