RED OR REDDISH PURPLE 29 



Flowers. — Emerson says : " The flower, two 

 or three inches broad, is as beautiful and almost 

 as fragrant as a water lily." It is creamy white, 

 solitary, and terminal. June. 



The soft white flowers, amidst the glossy 

 green foliage, yield one of the pleasures found 

 among the swamp growths of early summer, 

 especially along the coast. The gradual transi- 

 tion from one part of the flower to another is 

 interesting. The sepals are much like the petals 

 and the stamens retain a petal-like character. 

 The fruit mass flies the red-seed banners to at- 

 tract the bird carriers. In our section the plant 

 is a shrub ; along the Gulf of Mexico it be- 

 comes a tree. It has been found as far north as 

 Cape Ann. The bark is usually brown, but on 

 young growths is light gray. 



CUCUMBER TREE. MOUNTAIN MAGNOLIA 

 Magnolia acuminata Magnolia Family 



Fruit. — The structure of the fruit is similar 

 to that of the small Magnolia, but it is much 

 larger. ' It is pink with red seeds. The resem- 

 blance of the green fruit to a cucumber is the 

 cause of one of its common names. 



