﻿Trees of Xcw York IState 219 



MAGNOLIACEAE 



Magnolia acuminata L. 



Cucumber Tree 



Habit — A large tree attainino- under optimum conditions a height of 80-90 

 feet M-ith a trunk diameter of 3-4 feet. lu the open the bole is tapering 

 and continuous through the pyramidal crown, the lateral limbs clothing 

 the trunk nearly to the ground. Under forest conditions the slightly 

 tapering trunk may be free of branches for 40-r)0 feet and the crown 

 much restricted. 



Leaves — Alternate, oblong to oval 4-10 iiu-hcs long. 2-0 inches wide, acute 

 at the apex, rounded or slightly cordate at the base, entire, at maturity 

 thin, dark green, smooth and glabrous above, paler and slightly pubescent 

 beneath, borne on slender petioles I-IV2 inches long, turning yellow in 

 the autumn before falling. 



Howers — Appearing in the North during May and early June, terminal, 

 glaucous-green tinged A\'ith yellow, campanulate. about 3 inches long, per- 

 fect. Sepals 3. membranaceous, acute, shorter than the petals, at length 

 retiexed and deciduous. Petals 6, obovate, acute, concave, erect, 2^-3 

 inches long, deciduous. Stamens numerous, inserted in many ranks on 

 the base of the torus, apiculate, mth short filaments and pale yellow 

 anthers, deciduous after anthesis. Pistils densely imbricated on the 

 receptacle, each consisting of a tleshy ovary and short, recurved style 

 stigmatic on its inner surface. 



Pruit — Aggregate cone-like, somewhat fleshy, oblong or ovoid, usually curved, 

 glabrous, 2-21/2 inches long, consisting of many coherent, dark red 

 follicles which open at maturity along the outer suture to release the fleshy 

 seeds. Seed scarlet, drupaceous, compressed, about % of an inch long, 

 suspended at maturity by a long, thin, funicular cord. 



Winter characters — Twigs rather slender, lustrous, glabrous or sparingly 

 pubescent, bright reddish bro^vn, at length gray. Pith diaphragmed- 

 stuffed. Terminal bud ovate-oblong, acute, somewhat curved, densely 

 covered A\-itli pale silky hairs, 75-% of an inch long. Lateral buds 

 smaller, blunt, nearly surrounded by the leaf-scar. Bud-scales stipular, 

 valvate. Mature bark thin, dark grayish brown, separated by long fur- 

 roAvs into scaly ridges. 



Habitat — Usually found in rich woods on moist slopes and along stream 

 courses. 



Range — Central New York westward through southoni Ontario to southern 

 Illinois, southward along the Appalachian Mountains iiitt) the Gulf States 

 and Arkansas. Zones B and C. 



Uses — A timber species of some importance. Wood light, soft, close-grained, 

 brittle, pale yellowish browni with thin, yellowish white sapwood. Not 

 distinguished in the trade fnmi that of the Yellow Poplar and used for 

 similar purposes. The tree is also grown ornamentally in eastern United 

 States; and abroad. 



