in. 



33 



Magnolia tripetala, of a beautiful rose colour when ripe ; it differs from those 

 of the other species by a little inferiority of size, and by a small appendage 

 which terminates the carpels. Each carpel contains one or two seeds. The 

 wood is soft, spongy, very light, and unfit for use. The bark is grey, and 

 always smooth, even on the oldest trees. When the epidermis is removed, 

 the cellular integument, by contact with the air, instantly changes from white 

 to yellow. In England, annual shoots of young plants are from 1 ft. to 2 ft. or 

 more in length ; and the height which the tree usually attains in 10 years is 

 from 10ft. to 15ft. The soil for this species ought to be free and deep; 

 and the situation low, sheltered, and moist, rather than dry. As seeds are 

 not very easily procured, the common mode of propagation is by layers, or 

 by inarching on M. acuminata. Two years are required before the plants 

 can be separated from the parent stock. 



ii. Gwillimla, Rott. in Dec. Syst. 



Derivation. Named in honour of General Gwillim, some time governor of Madras. (Don't Mitt., 

 1. p. 83.) 



Sect. Char. Asiatic species, generally with two opposite spathe-like bracteas 

 enclosing the flower-bud. Anthers bursting inwards. Ovaries somewhat 

 distant. (Don's Mill.) Trees or shrubs ; natives of Asia. 



% 8. M. CONSPI'CUA Salisb. The Yulan, or conspicuous-flowered Magnolia. 



Identification. Dec. Prod., 1. p. 81. ; Don's Mill. 1., p. 83. 



Synonymies. M. precia Correct ; M. Yi<lan Desf. ; Yu Ian, Chinese; the Lily-flowered Magnolia; 



Magnolier Yulans, Fr. Yulans Bieberhaum, Ger. Magnolia dai Fiori di Giglio, Jtal. 

 Derivation. The epithet prdcia was given to this magnolia by M. Correa, because it produces its 



flowers before its leaves. Yu Ian signifies the lily tree. Giglio is the Italian for a lily. 

 Engravings. Dot. Mag., 1621.; the plate of this species in Arb. Brit. 1st edit. vol. v.; and our fig. 44. 



Spec. Char., fyc. Deciduous. Leaves obovate, abruptly acuminated ; younger 

 ones pubescent, expanding after the flowers. Flowers erect, 6 9-petaied. 

 Styles erect. (Don's Mill) A deciduous tree of the middle size. China, 

 Height in China 40 ft. to 50 ft. ; in England 20 ft. to 30 ft. Introduced in 

 1789. Flowers white, fragrant ; February and April. Strobiles brownish ; 

 ripe in September. Decaying leaves dark brown or black. Naked young 

 wood ash-coloured or greyish brown. 



Varieties, or Hybrids. 



* M. c. 2 Soulangeana. M. Soulangearca An. 



Hort. Soc. Par.; Magnolier de Soulange, 



Fr. (M. Soulangeawa Swt. Brit. Fl.- 



Gard., t. 260. ; and our Jig. 43.) The 



leaves, wood, and general habit of this 



tree bear a close resemblance to those of 



M. conspfcua. The flowers resemble in 



form those of M. purpurea var. gracilis 



or of M. purpurea, and the petals are 



slightly tinged with purple. It was raised 



at Fromont, near Paris, from the seeds 



of a plant of M. conspfcua, which stood 



near one of M. purpurea, in front of the 



chateau of M. Soulange-Bodin ; the * 3 ' ^ M^I^ *.**. *!,>". 



flowers of the former of which had been accidentally fecundated by 



the pollen of the latter. 



Other Varieties, or Hybrids. M. conspfcua has ripened seeds in various 

 places ; and, as it fertilises readily with M. purpurea and M. gracilis, many 

 new varieties may be expected when the attention of cultivators is more 



