Magnolia macrophylla^ 

 THE LARGE-LEAVED MAGNOLIA 



Synon'i/mcs. 



Magnolia macrapfnjlJa, 



Ma^olier a grandes feuilles, Magnolier 



bananier, 

 Grossblattriger Bieberbaum, 

 Large-leaved Umbrella-tree, 



De Candoi.le, rroilromus. 



Don, Miller's Diclionary. 



MiciiAUx, North American Sylva. 



Loudon, Arboretum Britannicum. 



ToRKEY AND Gkay, Flora of North America. 



France. 



Germany. 



Britain and Anglo-America. 



DtrixxUions. The specific name is derived from the Greek macros, great, and phullos, a leaf. It is cilled Umbrella tret 

 from its resemblance tn the oilier species bearing that name. The French names are translations of the botanic one, except 

 Magnolier hanariier, which alludes to the resemblance the leaves of this tree bears to those of the banana-tree. The German 

 name sisnifies Large-leaved Beaver-tree. 



Engravings. MIchaux, North American Sylva, pi. 57; Loudon, Arboretum Britannicum, v., pi. 6 ; and the figures below. 



Specific Characters. Deciduous. Leaves very large, oblong-obovate, somewhat paaduriform, cordate 

 at the base, under surface whitish, glaucous. Petals 6 9, ovate. Bon, Miller's Diet. 



Description. 



HE Magnolia macrophylla is 



^ the least multiplied of the 



American species, and is rare- 



ly met with in the forests. Its, 



general appearance greatly resembles that of the Mag-[ 

 nolia umbrella. The terminal arrangement of thej 

 leaves is the same, and it is remarkable that it is usu- 

 ally found growing with it. In point of size it is about ' 

 the same as the above-named species, not usually 

 exceeding thirty or thirty-five feet in height, and five 

 or six inches in diameter, although individual trees 

 have been found of nearly double these dimensions. 

 The trunk is covered with a smooth and very white 

 bark, by which, in winter, when stripped of its leaves, 

 it is readily distinguished. At this season, also, it may 

 be known by its buds, which are compressed, and cov- 

 ered with a soft and silvery down ; whereas, in the 

 Magnolia umbrella they are prominent and rounded at 

 the end. The leaves in a wild state are about thirty- 

 five inches long, and nine or ten inches broad ; and in vigorous plants, when 

 cultivated, they often exceed these dimensions. They are borne on petioles, 

 short in comparison with their size, and are of an oblong-oval shape, pointed at 

 the extremity, and sub-cordiform at the base. Their colour is light-green above, 

 and glaucous beneath. The flowers put forth from May to July, and are larger 

 than those of most of its congeners ; for, when fully blown, they are sometimes 

 eight or nine inches in diameter. They are composed of six white petals, longer 

 and broader than those of the Magnolia umbrella. Within the flower, near the 

 bottom of the petals, is a purple spot, about two thirds of an inch in diameter. 

 The flowers emit a fragrant odour, and their beauty is heightened by the luxu- 

 riant foliage which surrounds them. The fruit is about four inches long, nearly 



