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CUCUMBER TREE 



{Magnolia acuniinaia L.) 

 THE cucumber tree attains an average height of 

 60 to 80 feet and a diameter of 2 to 4 feet. It 

 occurs singly among other hardwood trees through- 

 out the richer, cooler slopes and coves of our moun- 

 tains, and extends somewhat into the nearby regions. 

 This is the only one of our magnolias which lias 

 rough bark and a small leaf. 



The bark 

 is aromatic 

 andbitter ; 

 that of the 

 young 

 twigs is a 

 1 u s t r u s 

 red-brown, 

 while the 

 bark of 

 the trunk 

 i s rather 

 thin, dark 

 brown, 

 f u rrowed 

 and broken 

 into thin 

 scales. 



The leaves are alternate, oblong, short-pointed, 

 rounded at the base, silky hairy when unfolding, 

 later smooth or slightly silky, 6 to 10 inches long, 

 4 to 6 inches wide, often with wavy edges, dark 

 green above, lighter beneath. 



The flowers are single, large — though smaller than 

 those of the other magnolias — 2i/2 to 3 inches long. 

 The 6 upright petals are whitish green, tinged with 

 yellow. The fruit is a smooth, dark-red, often 

 crooked "cone," 21/0 to 3 inches long, somewhat 

 resembling a small cucumber. The seeds are one- 

 half inch long, and covered with a pulpy scarlet 

 coat, which attracts the birds, particularly as the 

 seeds liang by thin cords from tlie opening "cones."' 

 The wood is light, soft, close-grained, durable, 

 of a light yellow-brown color. It is cut and u.'^ed 

 extensively along with yellow poplar for cabinet 

 and carriage making, and other similar uses. Be- 

 sides being a valuable timber tree, it is quite de- 

 sirable for roadside and ornamental planting. 



53 



CrOTTMRER TREE 



Leaf, one-third natural size. 



Twiy, two-tliiicls natural size. 



