MAGNOLIA 69 



down beneath ; the stalk one-fourth the length of the blade, stout ; the midrib 

 prolonged beyond the blade into a short tip. The flowers are 7 to 8 ins. 

 across, cup-shaped and fragrant ; the petals about 4 ins. long, half as wide, 

 dull, creamy white. The cone-like fruit is 6 ins. long. 



Native of Yunnan, China ; introduced by Wilson in 1899. It grows on 

 mountain-sides at from 4500 to 7500 ft. elevation, but in spite of these con- 

 siderable altitudes it has not proved hardy at Kew in the open ground. 

 Against a wall, both there and at the Coombe Wood nursery, it succeeds 

 admirably. It flowered first in 1908. From the other (and hardier) evergreen 

 cultivated Magnolia M. grandiflora this is very distinct in the larger leaves, 

 dull green above, glaucous beneath. It ought to be a valuable tree in the 

 south-western counties. 



M. FRASERI, Walter. ERASER'S MAGNOLIA. 



(M. auriculata, Lamarck, Bot. Mag., t. 1206.) 



A deciduous tree, 30 to 40 ft. high, of open, spreading habit. Leaves pro- 

 duced in a cluster at the ends of the branches, pale green, of thin texture, 

 smooth on both sides, obovate, pointed and with two distinct auricles (or lobes) 

 at the base, extending below the point where the stalk joins the blade ; the 

 entire blade is from 8 to 1 5 ins. long, about half as wide ; the stajk 2 to 4 ins. 

 long. Flowers 8 ins. or more across, strongly and not very agreeably scented 

 at anyrate close at hand ; produced on the leafy shoots in May and June. 

 Sepals three, oblong-obovate, greenish, larger than the petals, deflexed. 

 Petals six, at first pale yellow, afterwards milky white ; narrowly obovate, 

 3 to 4 ins. long ; at first erect, afterwards spreading. Seeds red, produced on 

 a rose-coloured cone 4 or 5 ins. long. 



Native of the south-eastern United States ; first discovered in S. Carolina, 

 in 1776, by William Bartram, and introduced to England ten years later. 

 This handsome and striking tree is distinguished from all other Magnolias, 

 except the rare M. pyramidata and the much larger-leaved M. macrophylla, 

 by the auricles at the base of the leaves. It is well worth growing as a lawn 

 tree. The specific name commemorates John Fraser, who sent to England 

 many North American plants between 1780 and 1810 including this Magnolia. 



M. GLAUCA, Linnceus. SWAMP BAY. 



A shrub or small tree in Great Britain, but said to be occasionally 50 ft. 

 high in its native localities. Leaves oval or oblong, sometimes obovate, 

 2^ to 5 ins. long, scarcely half as wide ; often blunt at the apex ; lustrous 

 green and smooth above, blue white and downy beneath, especially when 

 young. Flowers globular, 2 to 3 ins. wide, delightfully scented ; produced in 

 no great numbers, but continuously, on leafy shoots, from June to September. 

 Petals oblong or slightly obovate, i^ to 2 ins. long, at first creamy white, 

 becoming deeper with age. The fruit develops indifferently in this country, 

 but in the eastern United States the fine red cones produce a bright effect. 

 This Magnolia varies in the persistence of its leaves ; and of two trees at 

 Kew, growing within a few yards of each other, one retains some of its foliage 

 all the winter, the other, var. DECIDUA, is quite deciduous. 



Native of the eastern United States from Massachusetts to Florida, often 

 in swampy places. It was one of the early introductions from America, and 

 is known to have been cultivated by Bishop Compton at Fulham Palace 

 Gardens before the end of the seventeenth century. It is a most charming plant, 

 readily distinguished by its comparatively small leaves, vividly glaucous 

 beneath (but see also M. Thompsoniana). It is, or has been, valued in 

 medicine for its tonic and diaphoretic properties. 



