82 



MAGNOLIACEjE. VIII. MAGNOLIA. 



Woolly Michelia. Tree 60 feet. 



12 M. PARVIFLO'RA (Rumph. amb. 2. p. 199. D. C. syst. 1. 

 p. 449.) leaves elliptical, a little acuminated, smooth ; branchlets, 

 buds, and spaths clothed with rufous tomentum. Tj . S. Native 

 of the islands of Java and Ternata. Del. icon. sel. 1. t. 85. 

 Blum. fl. jav. fasc. 19. p. 18. M. fuscata, Spreng. Magnolia 

 parviflora, D. C. syst. 1. p. 459. Flowers small, of a livid flesh 

 colour, or cream-coloured, sweet-scented. Peduncles axillary, 

 solitary, 1 -flowered. Petals 6, inner ones broadest. 



Small-flowered Michelia. Shrub 7-10 feet. 



j" Species scarcely known. 



13 M. C.SRU ( LEA (Rumph. amb. 2. p. 199.) T?.S. Native 

 of Java, where it is called Tsiampacca-Biru. Flowers blue. 



JSZue-flowered Michelia. Tree 30 feet. 



14 M. A'LBA (Rumph. amb. 2. p. 199.). ^. S. Native of 

 Java and Baleya. Flowers white, smaller and more pleasant than 

 those of M. Champaca. 



White-flowered Michelia. Tree 20 feet. 



Cult. Michelia is a genus of highly ornamental trees. They 

 succeed well in a mixture of loam and peat. Ripened cuttings 

 do best in sand under a hand-glass, -in heat. They take well 

 and grow freely, inarched on the common Purple Magnolia, 

 which is the readiest way of propagating them. (Sweet.) 



VIII. MAGNO'LIA (in honour of Pierre Magnol, professor 

 of Medicine, and prefect of the Botanic Garden at Montpelier, 

 died 1715, author of Botanicum Monspeliense, 1676, and other 

 works). Lin. gen. no. 690. , Gaert. fruct. 1. p. 343. t. 70. Juss. 

 gen. 281. Lam. ill. t. 490. D. C. syst. 1. p. 449. prod. 1. p. 79. 



LIN. SYST. Polyandria, Polygynia. Carpels disposed in 

 crowded spikes, opening by the external angle, 1-2-seeded, per- 

 manent. Seeds baccate, somewhat cordate, pendulous, hanging 

 out beyond the capsules by a very long umbilical thread. Sepals 3. 

 A genus of highly ornamental trees. The leaves are large and 

 entire. The flowers are solitary, terminal, very large and odo- 

 riferous. The bark is bitter and aromatic, tonic and febrifuge. 

 Seeds also bitter and often febrifuge. Capsules aromatic. 



SECT. I. MAGNOLIA'STRUM (from Magnolia and astrum, and 

 affixed signification like ; that is to say, the true Magnolias). 

 D. C. syst. 1. p. 450. prod. 1. p. 80. American species, with 

 one spath-like bractea, inclosing the flower-bud ; ovaries approxi- 

 mate ; anthers bursting outwards. 



1 M. GRANDIFLO'RA (Lin. spec. 755.) evergreen ; leaves oval- 

 oblong, coriaceous, upper surface shining, under surface rusty ; 

 flowers erect, 9-12-petalled, expanded. Jj . H. Native of 

 North America in forests, in marshy places from North Carolina 

 to Louisiana. Lam. ill. 490. Savi. bibl. ital. 1819. no. 47. 

 p. 219. Mich. f. arb. amer. 3. p. 71. 1. 1. Duham. arb. ed. nov. 

 vol.2, p. 219. t. 65. 



This very stately, elegant, evergreen tree rises in its native 

 country to the height of 70 or 80 feet, dividing into many 

 branches, which form a large pyramidal head. Leaves resembling 

 those of the common Laurel, pale green and shining, about 10 

 inches long. Flowers large, white, sweet-scented. Fruit ovate, 

 4 inches long, resembling a cone. It should be planted in a 

 sheltered situation, as it is much more tender than the other Ame- 

 rican species. In America it flowers the greater part of the sum- 

 mer, beginning in May ; with us it does not begin till June. 



Var. a,rotundifblia(Sweet, hort. brit. p. 11.) leaves roundish. 



Var. ft, obovata ; leaves obovate-oblong ; flowers expanded. 

 Hort. kew. ed. 2. vol. 3. p. 329. In Carolina this variety is 

 known by the name of Big Laurel. 



Far. y, elliptica ; leaves oblong-elliptical ; flowers somewhat 

 contracted. Ait. hort. 'cew. ed. 2. vol. 3. p. 329. Lodd. bot. 

 cab. 814. Mill. icon. vol. 2. t. 172. This variety is called the 



Exmouth Magnolia. It is hardier than the other varieties, and 

 flowers earlier. 



Var. l,ferruginea (Sims, bot. mag. 1952.) leaves oblong-lan- 

 ceolate, under surface rusty ; flowers somewhat contracted. 

 This variety flowers at a smaller size than the other varieties. 



Var. e, lance'olata ; leaves oblong-lanceolate ; flowers some- 

 what contracted. Ait. hort. kew. ed. 2. vol. 3. p. 329. M. 

 grandiflora, Andr. bot. rep. 518. 



Great-flowered or Great Laurel-leaved Magnolia. Clt. 1 737. 

 Fl. June, Aug. Tree 70 feet. 



2 M. GLAU'CA (Lin. spec. ed. 2. p. 755.) almost deciduous ; 

 leaves elliptical, obtuse, under surface glaucous ; flowers 9-12- 

 petalled, contracted ; petals ovate, concave. >? . H. Native of 

 North America in low, moist, swampy ground at a little distance 

 from the sea, from Massachusetts to Florida and Louisiana, espe- 

 cially in New Jersey and Carolina. Schkuhr. handb. no. 1441. 

 t. 148. Lodd. bot. cab. t. 215. Sims, bot. mag. 2164. Mich, 

 f. arb. amer. 3. p. 77. t. 2. Duham. abr. ed. nov. vol. 2. p. 223. 

 t. 66. Bonpl. nav. p. 103. t. 42. Bigl. med. bot. t. 27. M. 

 fragrans, Sal. prod. 379. M. Virginiana, var. a, glauca, Lin. 

 spec. ed. 1. p. 538. Fruit red when ripe. 



Var. ft, argentea; leaves oblong, under surface silvery, whitish- 

 glaucous. Pursh. in herb. Lamb. 



Var. y, Thomsoniana (Hort. ulan.) a hybrid between M. 

 glauca and M. umbrella, raised from seed by Mr. Thomson, of 

 Mile End Nursery. 



Var. S, Gordoniana (Hort.) hybrid. 



Var. c, Burchelliana (Hort.) hybrid. 



The bark of this tree has a bitter taste, combined with a strong 

 aromatic pungency, which approaches that of Sassafras. The 

 aroma resides in a volatile portion, which is probably an essential 

 oil, or a variety of camphor. It is lost from the bark in a dry 

 state. Water distilled from the green bark has its peculiar 

 flavour, with an empyreumatic smell. The dry bark affords a 

 little resin, and more of a bitter extractive substance. As a 

 medicinal article Magnolia is to be considered an aromatic tonic, 

 approaching in its character to Cascarilla Canella, &c. Chronic 

 rheumatism is one of the diseases in which it exhibits most effi- 

 cacy, all parts of the plant are employed in tincture with very 

 good success in this disease. In intermittent and remittent fevers 

 the bark is one of the many tonics which have been resorted to 

 for the cure of the inhabitants of the marshy countries of North 

 America. Sufficient testimony has been given in its favour as to 

 warrant a belief that it is fully adequate to the removal of fever 

 and ague, when administered like the Cinchona in liberal quan- 

 tities between the paroxysms. Several other species of Magnolia 

 resemble the present very closely in their sensible properties, 

 and as far as have been tried they are similar in their medicinal 

 effects. In order to secure the whole efficacy residing in these 

 trees, a tincture should be made from the bark or cones while 

 green, or very recently dried, before their more volatile parts 

 have escaped. 



This tree usually grows 15 or 20 feet high. The flowers are 

 white or cream-coloured, and have an agreeable sweet scent. 



In America this tree is known by the names of White Laurel, 

 Swamp Laurel, Swamp Sassafras, Sweet Bay, and Beaver Tree. 

 It has the last name, because the root is eaten as a great dainty 

 by beavers, and this animal is caught by means of it. Kalm 

 says these trees may be discovered at a distance of 3 miles by the 

 scent of their blossoms, if the wind be favorable. It is beyond 

 description pleasant to travel in the woods at the flowering season, 

 especially in the evening. They retain their flowers for 3 weeks, 

 and even longer. The berries also look very handsome, when 

 they are ripe, being of a rich red colour, and hanging in bunches 

 on slender threads. The inhabitants cure coughs and other pec- 

 toral diseases by putting these berries into brandy, and giving a 



