AN ENCYCLOPEDIA OF HORTICULTURE. 



315 



Mserua continued. 



thrives in a compost of loam and peat. Cuttings of nearly 

 ripened wood will root in sand, under a glass, in heat. 



M. oblongifolia (oblong-leaved), fl. white, terminal, in simple 

 depressed racemes ; petals shorter than the calyx lobes, oblong- 

 linear, acuminate. June. I. oblong-lanceolate, very obtuse and 

 mucronulate at the apex, glaucescent, shortly petiolate, liin. to 

 2in. long, nearly Jin. broad, h. 4ft. 'Abyssinia, 1822. Stove. 

 SYNS. Capparis heteroclita and Niebuhria oblongifolia. 



M2ESA (from maas, the Arabic name of one of the 

 species). SYN. Bceobotrys. OED. Myrsinece. A genus 

 of about thirty-five species of stove evergreen shrubs, 

 natives of the tropical and sub-tropical regions of the 

 Old World. Flowers white, small; racemes usually axil- 

 lary, simple or branched, many-flowered; pedicels brac- 

 teate at base. Leaves entire, dentate or serrate, often 

 full of pellucid dots. Probably the species here de- 

 scribed is the only one now in cultivation. For culture, 

 &c., see Ardisia. 



M. indica (Indian), fl. numerous, in axillary and terminal 

 racemes. November. I. from ovate to lanceolate, coarsely ser- 

 rated, Sin. to 6in. long. A. 5ft. to 6ft. India, 1817. (B. M. 

 2052, under name of Bceobotrys indica.) 



MAGNOLIA (named after Pierre Magnol, 1638-1715, 

 Professor of Medicine, and Prefect of the Botanic Garden 

 at Montpellier). OBD. Magnoliacece. This genus com- 

 prises about twenty species of elegant ornamental green- 

 house or hardy evergreen or deciduous trees and shrubs, 

 of which thirteen are natives of Japan, China, and the 

 Himalayas, and the rest are North American. Flowers 

 conspicuous, solitary, terminal ; petals six to twelve, in 

 two or more series. Leaves large, entire. Magnolias 

 are readily increased by layering ; also by seeds, which 

 should be sown, so soon as ripe, in a frame and kept 

 moderately moist until they germinate. Veneering and 

 side-cleft grafting are also practicable in July and 

 August; the stocks operated upon being placed in 



FIG. 500. FLOWER AND LEAVES OF MAGNOLIA CONSPICUA. 



a close frame until a union is effected. M. conspicua is 

 one of the earliest and most beautiful of outside flower- 

 ing trees. It, as well as several other species, should 

 be provided with a sheltered situation, especially in the 

 colder parts of the country. M. acuminata is, perhaps, 

 the hardiest species of the genus, and forms a fine 

 large tree. M. grandiflora is well adapted for planting 

 against the wall of a house where there is a con- 

 siderable space to be covered ; its massive evergreen 

 leaves and large white blossoms being especially distinct 

 and attractive in late summer and autumn. The flowers 

 of the majority of Magnolias emit an agreeable and strong 

 perfume. Those of M. fuscata, an evergreen slow- 

 growing greenhouse species, are very powerfully scented 



Magnolia continued. 



when the sun shines, one or two flowers being sufficient 

 to perfume a large house. M. glauca, a very desirable 

 small-flowered hardy shrubby species, is also agreeably 

 scented. Magnolias succeed best in warm positions, and 

 in a moderately rich soil, which should be of a free, 

 open texture. They are somewhat impatient of root 

 disturbance. 



M. acuminata (acuminated).* Cucumber-tree, fl. glaucous, 

 green, tinged with yellow, Sin. to 4in. in diameter, scarcely 

 scented, petals six to nine. May to July. fr. about 3in. long, 

 when young somewhat resembling a small cucumber. I. oblong, 

 acuminate ; under surface pubescent, h. 30ft. to 60ft. North 

 America, 1736. A large, vigorous, hardy, deciduous tree, with 

 spreading branches. (B. M. 2427 ; L. B. C. 418.) 

 M. auricnlata (eared). A synonym of M. Fraseri. 



FIG. 501. FLOWERING BRANCHLET OF MAGNOLIA OLAUCA. 



M. Campbellii (Campbell's), fl. pale rose ii 

 slightly fragrant, 6in. to 10m. in diameter, 

 lanceolate, silky hairy beneath. Sikkim, IE 



Je rose inside, crimson outside, 

 April. L large, ovate- 

 .1868. A very handsome 



deciduous tree in its native habitat, but not sufficiently hardy 

 to withstand our winters, except in the most favoured spots. 

 It flowered outside in the South of Ireland in 1883, and again in 

 1885. 



M. conspicua (conspicuous).* The Yulan. fl. white, sometimes 

 suffused with purple, expanding during the day, very fragrant, 

 erect, produced in great profusion ; petals six to nine. February 

 to May. I. obovate, abruptly acuminated, younger ones pubescent, 

 expanding after the flowers, h. 20ft. to 50ft. China, 1789. A 

 well-known and handsome hardy deciduous tree, of which there 

 are one or two varieties in cultivation. SYN. M. Yulan. See 

 Fig. 500. (B.M.1621.) 



M c. Sonlaneeana (Soulange's). Probably a natural hybrid 

 between M. cfnspicu* and M. obovata ; it has the large flowers 

 of the former, and the purple-tinted petals of the latter species. 

 France. (B. B. 1164. under name of M. Yulan Soulangeana, and 

 S. B. F. G. 260, under name of M. Soulangeana.) 



M. C. S. nigra (black). A form with still darker flowers. 



M. cordata (cordate), fl. yellow, lined with purple, erect, about 

 4in. in diameter, scentless ; petals six to nine, oblong. April to 

 July. I. heart-shaped, somewhat ovate, acute, from 4m. to 

 6in. long; under surface tomentose, upper surface smooth. 

 h. 40ft. to 50ft. North America, 1801. Hardy deciduous tree. 

 (L. B. C. 474.) 



M. Fraseri (Fraser's). Long-leaved Cucumber-tree, fl. yellowish- 

 white, erect, Sin. to 4in. in diameter, very sweet-scented ; petals 

 nine oblon". April. 1. 1ft. or more long, smooth, under surface 

 somewhat glaucous, spathulately-obovate, cordate at the base, 

 with blunt, approximate auricles, h. 30ft. to 50ft. North 

 America, 1786. A bold and imposing hardy deciduous species, 

 with spongy wood. SYN. if. auriculata. (A. B. B. 573; B. M. 

 1206.) 



M. fuscata (brown-stalked).* fl. dull purple, very fragrant, small, 

 erect. April. I. elliptical-oblong, adult ones smooth, younger 

 ones, as well as blanches and petioles, covered with brown 

 tomentum. h. 2ft. to 4ft. China, 1789. A greenhouse evergreen 

 shrub. (A. B. B. 229 ; B. M. 1008.) 



M. glanoa (glaucous).* fl. white, very fragrant, about 3in. in 

 diameter ; petals nine to twelve, ovate, concave. May to July. 

 I elliptical, obtuse, under surface glaucous, h. 15ft. North 

 America, 1688. A very desirable hardy evergreen shrub. See 

 Fig. 501. (L. B. C. 215.) 



