KEY TO THE SPECIES OF MAGNOLIA 



1. Leaves evergreen, persistent 2 years, thick and leathery, 5-8 inches 

 long, densely red-hairy below; fruit, buds, and twigs densely red 

 or white-hairy; flowers white, fragrant, 7-8 inches across; North 



Carolina to Florida, west to Texas and Arkansas 



M. grandiflora L., Southern Magnolia, p. 233. 



L Leaves deciduous (in Sweetbay semi-evergreen in the south); 

 parts not densely red-hairy. 

 2. Leaves 4-10 inches long. 



3. Leaves obovate-spatulate, auriculate at base; buds, twigs, 

 and lower leaf surface glabrous; flowers creamy white; 



Georgia and Florida west to Louisiana 



M. pyramidata Bartr., Pyramid Magnolia 



3. Leaves elliptic to oblong-obovate; buds and lower leaf sur- 

 faces usually white-hairy. 

 4. Leaves oblong-ovate to elliptic ; flowers greenish or yellow ; 



styles deciduous from follicles of fruit 



M. acuminata L., Cucumbertree, p. 233. 



4. Leaves oblong-lanceolate to elliptic, 4-6 inches long; 

 flowers white; styles persistent on follicles of fruit; 

 Massachusetts to Pennsylvania and Tennessee, south to 



Florida, west to Texas M. virginiana L., Sweetbay 



2. Leaves 10-30 inches long; styles persistent on follicles of fruit. 

 5. Leaves, buds, and fruit glabrous. 



6. Leaves obovate-lanceolate, wedge-shaped at base, 18-20 

 inches long; flowers white; Pennsylvania to Ohio, Mis- 

 souri, Oklahoma and south 



M. tripetala L., Umbrella Magnolia 



6. Leaves obovate-spatulate, auriculate at base, 10-12 inches 

 long; flowers pale yellow; Virginia and Kentucky to Ala- 

 bama and Georgia. . . .M. fraseri Walt., Fraser Magnolia 



5. Leaves, buds, and fruit hairy. 



7. Leaves silvery hairy on lower surface, obovate, heart- 

 shaped at base, 20-30 inches long; fruit ovoid to globose; 

 North Carolina to Kentucky and Arkansas, south to 



Florida and Louisiana 



M. macrophylla Michx., Bigleaf Magnolia 



7. Leaves hairy on midrib of lower surface, obovate-spatu- 

 late, 16-22 inches long; fruit ovoid cylindric; western 

 Florida and Texas. . .M. ashei Weatherbv, Ash Magnolia 



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