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1913]  Stone,— Magnolia tripetala in Springfield, Mass. 63 
MAGNOLIA TRIPETALA IN SPRINGFIELD, MASSACHU- 
SETTS. 
GEORGE E. STONE. 
Some time ago my attention was called to one of our cultivated 
southern magnolias (Magnolia tripetala L.) growing apparently spon- 
taneously in Springfield, Mass. Being interested in the occurrence 
of this species in a locality so remote from its native habitat and wish- 
ing to learn more of its occurrence there, one day last summer I made 
a trip to the location. Dr. W. H. Chapin, of Springfield, who discov- 
ered these trees, was the first to call my attention to them. He had 
observed them growing in two distinct localities in Springfield and 
has been familiar with these groups for some years. 
One small tree about nine years old is now growing in Edgewood 
swamp, which is only a few rods from a much travelled highway and 
near the Boston & Albany railroad. The other station, which I did 
not visit, is on the edge of a pond about a mile from the swamp and 
about two miles east of the center of the city, towards Wilbraham. 
The group located on the pond shore has, I understand, been practi- 
cally exterminated by the woodsman’s axe, although a number of 
fairly good sized trees formerly grew there. The Edgewood swamp tree 
is seven or eight feet high and is growing in rather dense shade, sur- 
rounded by tall trees and such undergrowth as poison sumach, lez, 
Osmunda cinnamomea and other ferns. The tree was making good 
growth and appeared to be perfectly athome. From its habit of growth 
it would seem easy for this tree to become established in this location. 
There are a number of these trees in cultivation in Springfield, 
and it is presumed that the ripened seeds were gathered by birds and 
dropped at these two stations. As an ornamental tree M agnolia 
tripetala thrives better in our range than some of our native species, 
notwithstanding its typical southern habitat. 
The factors underlying plant distribution and adaptation are quite 
complex and difficult of solution; and in these days of soil surveys it 
would be of some importance to agriculture if we could know more 
about the subject. It is by no means easy to explain why a tree like 
Magnolia tripetala, which grows so well under our climatic conditions, 
is not indigenous to this region, or even why M. glauca, which is re- 
garded as indigenous here, should be restrieted to such a narrow range. 
AMHERST. 
