260 ARBOREYUM AND FRUTICETUM. PART Ills 
Genus I. 
MAGNOLIA L. Tue Macnouta. Lin. Syst. Polyandria Polygynia. 
Identification. Lin. Gen., 690. ; Gert. Fruct., 1. p. 343. ; Dec. Prod., 1. p. 79.; Don’s Mill., 1. p. 82. 
Synonymes. Magnolie, Fr. and Ital. ; Bieberbaum Hart.,; and Magnolie Wiilid., Ger. 
Derivations, The name Magndlia was given to this genus by Linnzus, in honour of Pierre Magnol, 
professor of medicine, and prefect of the botanic garden at Montpelier. He was author of Bota- 
nicum Monspeliense, published in 1676, and of other works. He died in 1715. The German name 
Bieberbaum, beaver-wood, is applied generically by Hartweg in the Hortus Carlsruhensis ; but, in 
America, beaver-wood appears to be applied only to M. glatica. 
Gen. Char. Calyx of 3 deciduous sepals, that resemble petals. Corolla of 
from 6—9 petals. Stamens numerous. Pistils numerous. Carpels disposed 
compactly in spikes, opening by the external angle, 1—2-seeded, permanent. 
Seeds baccate, somewhat cordate, pendulous, hanging out beyond the car- 
pels by a very long umbilical thread. — Trees and shrubs with large entire 
leaves ; and solitary, terminal, large, odoriferous flowers. Trees chiefly deci- 
duous, but partly evergreen. (Don’s Mill., adapted.) 
Description. .One of the species is a lofty evergreen tree; but the others 
are deciduous, and partly trees and partly shrubs. The flowers of most of the 
species are white ; but in some they are of a greenish yellow, and in others they 
are tinged with purple.. The seeds are mostly of a scarlet colour. The 
roots are branched, and yet but sparingly supplied with fibres. ; 
Geography, The native country of most of the hardy magnolias is North 
America; but there are some hardy species found in China and Japan, and, 
perhaps, also, in the Himalaya. No species of Magnolidcee has hitherto been 
found in Europe, Africa, South America, or Australia; and the geographical 
range of thisorder in America and Asia is comparatively limited. The first 
magnolias were imported into Europe about the year 1730, and into France 
and England nearly about the same time. From that period to the present 
new species have been introduced at intervals, and some may be expected 
from the mountainous regions of India. Most of them are to be found in all 
the botanic gardens, and in the principal European nurseries. Al] the magnolias 
are highly ornamental ; and though this is their principal use in Europe, yet in 
America they are valued for their medical properties. The bark of all the 
species is bitter; and it is used in America for the same purposes as the Jesuits’ 
bark is in Europe. The magnolias may be cultivated in most parts of Britain, 
and of the middle and southern states of Europe; but, north of London and 
Paris, some of the species require protection during winter, or to be kept in 
the green-house. A deep sandy soil, and a situation sheltered from the 
north and east, will suit most of the species; though some, as M. glatica, for 
example, thrive best in a moist peaty soil. Few of the species ripen seeds in 
England, but most of them do so in France. From these seeds, or from such 
as are imported, all the American species are most frequently raised ; but the 
species from Asia are increased by layers, as are the American species very fre- 
quently. In France, all the deciduous magnolias endure the open air, even in 
the northern provinces, without protection during winter, because, in con- 
sequence of the warm summers, the wood is thoroughly ripened. In the 
neighbourhood of Paris, all the species, even those of Asia, ripen seeds; 
though the evergreen magnolia requires protection there during winter. In 
Holland and Belgium, the deciduous magnolias thrive nearly as well as in 
France, and some of them ripen their seeds. In Italy, the magnolias suffer 
from the heat, except when planted in moist situations, and_among other 
trees. In the north of Germany, in Russia, and in the greater part of Sweden, © 
most of the magnolias are green-house plants. pe 
The hardy species of this genus are included in two sectjous, Magnoli- 
éstrum and Gwillimia, te 
