276 ARBORETUM AND FRUTICETUM. PART Il. 
* 7. M. auricuta‘ta Lam. The auricled-/eaved Magnolia. 
identiiientoe, Willd. Sp., 2. p. 1258.; Dec. Prod., 1. p. 80.; Hayne Dend., 117.; Don’s Mill., 
1. p. 83, 
Synonymes. M. Fraseri Walt.; M. auricularis Salisb.; Indian Physic, and long-leaved Cucumber 
Tree, Amer.; Magnolier auriculé, Fr. ; gedhrter (eared) Bieberbaum, Ger. 
Engravings. Bot. Mag., 1206.; E. of Pl. 7916.; and our plate in Vol. II. 
Spec. Char. Deciduous. Leaves smooth, under surface somewhat glaucous, 
spathulately obovate, cordate at the base, with blunt approximate auricles. 
Sepals 3, spreading. Petals 9, oblong. (Don’s Mill.,i. p. 83.) A tree of the 
middle size. North America. Yellowish-white flowers. April and May. 
1786. 
Description. This tree attains the height of from 40 ft. to 45 ft., with a 
straight trunk 12 in. or 15 in. in diameter, often undivided for half its length ; 
the branches spread widely, and ramify but sparingly ; and this circumstance, 
Michaux observes, gives the tree a very peculiar air, so that it may readily be 
known at a distance, even in winter. The leaves are of a light green colour, 
of a fine texture, 8 in. or 9 in. long, and from 4 in. to 6 in. broad: on young 
and vigorous trees they are often one third, or even one half, larger. They 
are smooth on both surfaces, acuminate at the summit, widest near the top, 
and narrowest towards the bottom. The base is divided into rounded lobes, 
whence is derived the specific name of auriculata. The flowers are 3.in. or 
4 in. in diameter, of a milky white, of an agreeable odour, and are situated at 
the extremity of the young shoots, which are of a purplish red, dotted with 
white. The fruit is oval, 3 in. or 4in. long, and, like that of Magnolia tri- 
pétala, of a beautiful rose colour when ripe. They differ from those of the 
other species by alittle inferiority of size, and by a small appendage which ter- 
minates the carpels. Each carpel contains one or two seeds. The wood is soft, 
spongy, very light, and unfit for use. The bark is grey, and always smooth, 
even on the oldest trees. When the epidermis is removed, the cellular integu- 
ment, by contact with the air, instantly changes from white to yellow. The 
bark has an agreeable aromatic odour, and an infusion of it in some spirituous 
liquor is employed as an excellent sudorific in rheumatic affections. (Michauc.) 
In England, annual shoots of young plants are from 1 ft to 2 ft. or more in 
length ; and the height which the tree usually attains in 10 years is from 10 ft. 
tol5ft. The highest tree within ten miles of London is at Messrs. Loddigés’s, 
where it has attained the height of 30ft. The following extract from Bar- 
tram’s Travels will be read with interest. “ This exalted peak 1 named 
Mount Magnolia, from a new and beautiful species of that celebrated family of 
flowering trees, which here, at the cascades of Falling Creek, grows in a high 
degree of perfection. I had, indeed, noticed this curious tree several times 
before, particularly on the high ridges betwixt Sinica and Keowe, and on 
ascending the first mountain after leaving Keowe, where I observed it in flower : 
but here it flourishes and commands our attention... This tree (or perhaps 
rather shrub) rises 18 ft. to 30 ft. in height. There are usually many stems from 
a root, or source, which lean a little, or slightly diverge from each other, in. 
this respect imitating the Magnolia tripétala; the crooked wreathing branches 
arising and subdividing from the main stem without order or uniformity ; their 
extremities turn upwards, producing a very large rosaceous, perfectly white, 
double, or polypetalous, flower, which is of a most fragrant scent. This fine 
flower sits in the centre of a radius of very large leaves, which are of a singular 
figure, somewhat lanceolate, but broad towards their extremities, terminating 
with an acuminated point, and backwards they attenuate, and become very 
narrow towards their bases, terminating that way with two long narrow ears, or 
lappels, one on each side of the insertion of the petiole. The leaves have only 
short footstalks, sitting very near each other, at the extremities of the florife- 
rous branches, from which they spread themselves after a regular order, like 
the spokes of a wheel; their margins touching, or lightly lapping upon, each 
other, form an expansive. umbrella, superbly crowned or crested with the 
fragrant flower, representing a white plume. The blossom is succeeded by a 
