MAGNOLIA 67 



M. ACUMINATA, Linmcus. CUCUMBER TREE. 



(Bot. Mag., t. 2427.) 



A large deciduous tree, 60 to 90 ft. high, forming a trunk 6 to 12 ft. in 

 girth. Branches at first erect, ultimately arching. Leaves oval to oblong, 

 5 to 10 ins. long, about half as wide ; green on both sides, downy beneath ; 

 they narrow to a point at the end, the base is rounded. Flowers compara- 

 tively inconspicuous, dull greenish yellow ; sepals i to \\ ins. long ; petals 

 erect, 2 to 3 ins. long, in two sets of three each. Fruit dark red, columnar, 

 3 ins. long. 



Native of Eastern X. America, from New York State southwards, reaching 

 its finest development in the S. Allegheny region. This tree, the noblest of 

 American Magnolias in growth and the least effective in blossom, was 

 discovered by John Bartram, and introduced by him to England in 1736. It 

 was raised from seed by Peter Collinson, and flowered with him for the first' 

 time May 20, T 762. The flowers have a slight fragrance. The popular name 

 of " cucumber tree " refers to the shape and colour of the fruits when quite 

 young. It ripens seed freely, and young plants make perhaps the best stocks 

 for grafting other Magnolias upon. A fine tree at Kew is 5 ft. 3 ins. in girth 

 of trunk. 



Var. MAXIMA. Trees under this name are grown at Kew, but except for 

 a possibly more vigorous growth and larger foliage there is nothing to 

 distinguish them. Sent out by the firm of Loddiges about 1830. 



Var. VARIEGATA. Leaves handsomely blotched with golden yellow. 



M. CAMPBELLII, Hooker fit. . 



(Bot. Mag., t. 6793 ; Garden, Aug. 24, 1895 (plate).) 



A deciduous tree, occasionally 150 ft. high, with oval leaves tapering 

 towards both ends, from 6 to 10 ins. long, smooth above, covered with 

 appressed hairs beneath. Flowers produced in spring before the leaves ; 

 very fragrant, cup-shaped at first, the petals very thick, 4 to 5 ins. long and 

 about 2 ins. wide, varying in colour from deep rose to crimson. 



Native of the Sikkim Himalaya at 8000 to 10,000 ft. altitude. It is only 

 in the milder parts of the kingdom, ,like the south and west, that this fine 

 tree perhaps the most magnificent of Magnolias can be expected to really 

 thrive. It flowers from February to early April, and its flower-buds are 

 , susceptible to injury by storm and frost. It has flowered with Sir E. Loder at 

 Leonardslee, Horsham ; and a tree outside at Kew, 9 ft. high, has been 

 raised from seed that may have been gathered at the highest part of its 

 altitudinal range, which is considerable. Hooker described it, wild near 

 Darjeeling, as an immense, black-barked, sparingly branched tree. 



M. CONSPICUA, Salisbury. YULAN, LlLY TREE. 



(Garden, Sept. 22, 1888 (plate) ; M. Yulan, Desfontaines, Bot. Mag., t. 1621 ; 

 M. precia, Correa^) 



A rather low, rounded, deciduous tree, much branched, rarely more than 

 30, but sometimes 45 ft. high. Leaves 3 to 6 ins. long, 2 to 3^ ins. wide; 

 oval to obovate, the apex contracting abruptly to a point, downy beneath. 

 Flower-buds conspicuous all the winter by reason of their large scales covered 

 with grey, shaggy hairs. Flowers pure white, opening from March to May 

 according to the season ; petals 3 ins. long, at first erect, afterwards spreading, 

 thick, about nine in number. Fruit spindle-shaped, 6 ins. long. 



