MAGNOLIA FAMILY (MAGNOLIACEAE) 



Key to the 2 native species, both illustrated (Nos. 34-35) 



A. Leaves broadly elliptic to nearly round, abruptly short-pointed, hairless — 34. Magnolia portoricensis. 

 AA. Leaves ovate or elliptic, short- or long-pointed, the lower surface silky gray green with fine hairs — 35. MagnoHa 

 splendens. 



34. Jagiiilla 



This handsome tree of the central and western 

 mountains of Puerto Rico is easily recognized by: 



( 1 ) showy, very fragrant, white flowers 2-5 inches 

 across the 7 or 8 petals, borne singly and terminal : 



(2) leathery, liroadly elliptic to nearly round 

 leaves 3-8 inches long and '2-6 inches l)road. 

 abruptly short-pointed, bent upward on both sides 

 of midrib, slightly shiny, dark green or green on 

 upper surface and paler beneath giving the foliage 

 a grayish cast; (3) hairless twigs ringed at the 

 nodes; (4) foliage and bark with a spicy odor 

 when crushed, as well as a spicy taste; and (5) 

 long narrow terminal buds. 



A meditnn-sized to large evergreen tree attain- 

 ing 70 feet in height and 3 feet in trunk diameter, 

 with narrow crown. The gray bark is smoothish 

 or slightly fissured, becoming rough on large 

 trunks. Inner l)ark is light brown. The stout 

 green twigs have terminal buds 2-3 inches long, 

 green but becoming yellowish and tinged with 

 brown, composed of a pair of scales (stipules) en- 

 closing the new leaf and forming a ring scar when 

 shed. 



The alternate leaves have green petioles V2~lVi 

 inches long. Leaf blades have edges without 

 teeth, are rounded at base, stifi', and hairless. 



The beautiful, large, spreading flowers have 3 

 whitish-green sepals and 7 or 8 white petals, all 

 about 1%-2V2 inches long, broad and rounded at 

 apex, and slightly thickened. There are numer- 



Magnolia portoricensis Bello 



ous short-stalked stamens Vo inch long. Many 

 pale yellow pistils I/4-V2 "''ch long, each with 1- 

 celled ovary and curved style, are spirally ar- 

 ranged on a central axis -Vt inch high. 



Fruits are elliptic, conelike, IV2-- inches long 

 and 1 inch thick but slightly irregular in shape. 

 Each ovary becomes a pod (follicle) and splits 

 open to release 1 or 2 red triangular seeds, which 

 remain attached by fine threads before falling. 

 Flowering and fruiting nearly through the year. 



The sapwood is light brown. The heartwood 

 when freshly cut is olive brown or yellowish green, 

 later becoming brown. The wood is hard, heavy 

 (specific gravity 0.7), fine-textured, and spicy 

 fragrant, and is susceptible to attack by dry-wood 

 termites. Under the name laurel sabino, the wood 

 is employed for furniture, cabinetwork, and simi- 

 lar purposes. 



In forests of upper Cordillera region of Puerto 

 Rico. Most of the larger trees have been cut, ex- 

 cept in the most inaccessible areas. 



Public forests. — Carite, Guilarte, Maricao, 

 Toro Negro. 



Mt'NICIPALITi- WHERE ESPECIAI,I,T COMMON. 19. 



Ranoe.- -Known only from mountains of Puerto 

 Rico. 



Other common names. — burro mauricio, alciba, 

 anonillo, ortegon (Puerto Rico) ; laurel sabino 

 ( wood, Puerto Rico) . 



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