THE FLORIDA MAGNOLIA TREE 



BY JENNIE LYNNE KYLE 



THE Magnolia is one of the typical trees of Florida. In 

 no state in the Union does it attain such magnitude 

 of growth and beauty- It inhabits the low, rich lands 

 along the rivers and swamps, but many fine specimens are 

 found at varying distances from the river line. 



Its form is majestic and stately. While the great Live 

 Oaks and Water Oaks may 

 be called the Kings of the 

 Florida forests, the Mag- 

 nolia tree towers to as great 

 heights, and its wide- 

 spreading branches are 

 almost as powerful as those 

 of the great oaks. Its down- 

 ward spreading branches 

 tend to give it an oval shape 

 and when given space in 

 which all sides are exposed 

 to the sun and air, its 

 symmetry of form gives it 

 rank as the most beautiful 

 of Southern trees. 



The Magnolia tree of 

 Florida grows to a height 

 of one hundred to one hun- 

 dred and twenty-five feet, 

 the largest known measur- 

 ing eighteen feet in 

 circumference at the base. 

 The diameter is usually 

 uniform up to one-half the 

 height of the tree, where it 

 gradually diminishes in cir- 

 cumference to a small diam- 

 eter at the top of the tree. 



Its roots are powerful 

 and strong. The largest 

 ones run outward, very near 

 to the top of the ground, 

 to a distance equal to the 

 length of the greatest limbs 

 of the tree. These under- 

 grsund roots are to some 

 degree an imitation of the 

 tree above ground — a pro- 

 vision Nature makes for 

 its stability and protection. 



The leaves measure 

 from ten to thirteen inches 

 in length by three to four 

 inches in breadth. They 

 are oval at the end — thick and heavy — of a rich dark 

 green color at maturity, which is most beneficial to 

 the sense of sight in this land of bright sunshine and 



heat. In summer 

 this heavy mantle. 

 In winter the 

 the tree from cold 

 beauty. When all 

 Live Oak, whose 



leaves 



A MAGNIFICENT FLORIDA MAG.NOLIA 



This majestic magnolia is typical of the species. It is well located and so has 

 developed its wide-spreading branches in almost perfect symmetry. The heavy 

 mantle of leaves — a rich, dark green in color at maturity — protects the magnolia 

 in summer and winter, too, when all the others, except the Live Oak, are bare. 



and winter the tree is clothed in 



leaves are a great protection to 

 and assist Nature in her work of 

 other trees are bare, except the 

 are dull and brown in 

 color, the Magnolia trees 

 are richly clothed in 

 their leaves of green. 



The winter months are 

 only a preparation for the 

 bursting forth, in May, of 

 the most gorgeous and 

 wonderful flowers. The 

 buds begin to form about 

 the first of April and many 

 are open to greet the May- 

 day festivities. 



During May and June 

 the tree presents a wonder- 

 ful picture of many hun- 

 dreds of these noble flowers. 

 Each new shoot on every 

 limb bears a flower. Just 

 before the bud matures to 

 a perfect flower its white 

 form is a beautiful oval 

 figure, resembling a half- 

 opened rosebud, and is 

 at this time in its most 

 perfect form. In a few hours 

 eight large petals unfold 

 themselves into a flower 

 so large, so rich in its 

 creamy whiteness, yet so 

 pure and delicate, that one 

 touch of the finger, or the 

 breath from one's body, 

 will taint its loveliness and 

 in a few moments the wound 

 will cause a dark brown 

 spot to appear. No im- 

 jjurities dare come in con- 

 tact with its soft, delicate 

 texture, though while on 

 the tree in a pure atmos- 

 phere and sun it lasts for 

 many days. No bloom of 

 any tree or flower is so 

 large, so fragrant, yet so 

 delicate, pure and beautiful. 

 In the centre of this flower is a small cone of delicate 

 green shade — a wonderfully made thing of beauty — a 

 model of the finest and most delicate workmanship which 



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