42 MAGNOLIA FAMILY. 



* * * Shrubby : fl. in spring and early summer. 



v P. Moutan, TREE P^ONY, of China. Stems 2 -3 high; leaves palo 

 and glaucous, ample; flowers verv large (6' or more across), white with purple 

 base, or rose-color, single or double ; the disk, which in other species is a mere 

 ring, in this forms a thin-fleshy sac or covering, enclosing the 5 or more ovaries, 

 but bursting, and falling away as the pods grow. 



2. MAGNOLIACE^l, MAGNOLIA FAMILY. 



Trees or shrubs, with aromatic bitter bark, simple mostly entire 

 alternate leaves, an 1 solitary flowers ; tbe sepals and petals on the 

 receptacle and usually in threes, but together occupying more than 

 two ranks, and imbricated in the bud ; pistils and mostly the sta- 

 mens numerous, the latter with adnate anthers (Li-s-on-, p. 113, fi.ir. 

 233) ; and seeds only 1 or 2 in each carpel ; the embryo small in 

 albumen. 



I. Stipules to the leaves forming the bud-scales, and falling early. 

 Flowers perfect, large. Stamens and pistils many on a long recep- 

 tacle or axis, the carpels imbricated over each other and cohering 

 into a ma s. forming a sort of cone in fruit. These an; the charac- 

 ters of the true Magnolia Family, of which we have two genera. 



1. LIRIODKXDROX. Sepals 3, reflexed. Corolla bell-shaped, of G broad green- 



ish-orange petals. Stamens almost equalling the petals, with slender fila- 

 ments, and long anthers opening on f wanU. Carpels thin and scale-form, 

 closely packed over each other, dry in fruit, and after ripening separating 

 and falling away from the slender axis ; the wing-like portion answering t>> 

 style; the small seed-hearing cell at the ba-e and iiidehii-eiit. Leaf-buds 

 flat : stipules free from tiie petiole. 



2. MAGNOLIA. Sepals a. 1'etals j or 9. Stamens short, with hardly any fil- 



aments : anthers opening inwards. Carpels becoming fleshy in 'fruit and 

 forming a red or rose-colored cone, each when ripe (in autumn) splitting 

 down the back and di-chargmg 1 or 2 coral-red berry-like seeds, which hang 

 on extensile cobwehi.y threads. Stipules united with the base of the petiole, 

 falling as the leaves unfold. 



II. Stipules none. Here are two Southern plants which have 

 been made the representatives of as many small orders. 



3. ILLICIUM. Flowers perfect. Petals 9- 30. Stamens many, separate. Pis 



tii.s several in one row, forming a ring of almost woodv little ] 



4. 8GUIZANDBA. Flowers monoecious. Petals mostly 6. Stamens 5, united 



into a disk or bir ton-shaped body, which bears 10 anthers on the edg.-s of 

 the 5 lobes. Pistils many in a head, which lengthens into a spike of scattered 

 red berries. 



1. LIRIODENDRON, TULIP-TREE (which is the meaning of the 

 botanical name in Greek). (July one species, 



i L. Tulipifera. A tall, very handsome tree, in rich soil, commonest YV., 

 where ir, or the light and soft lumber (much used in cabinet-work), is called 

 WHITE-WOOD, and even POP LA it ; planted for ornament; fl. laic in spring, 

 yellow with greenish and orange. Leaves with 2 short side-lobes, and the end 

 as if cut off. 



2. MAGNOLIA. (Xamed for the botanist UfarjnoL) Some species are 

 called UMUKI-I. LA-TREKS, from the way the leaves are placed on the end of 

 the shoots ; others, CDOfTMBKB-TRSBS, from the appearance of the young fruit. 



* Xatire trees of this country, off.cn planted for ornament. 



M. grandiflbra, GKRAT-FLOWEKKI> MAGNOLIA of S., half-hardy in the 

 Middle States. The only perfectly evcrgicen species; splendid tree with 



