157 



CUCUMBER TREE. 

 Magnolia acuminata, Linnaeus. 



FORM A large tree, which may attain a height of 90 ft. with a diameter of 3-4 feet. The 

 form of the forest grown tree is distinct from the open grown. Open grown specimens have 

 a pyramidal crown with limbs originating all along the trunk from near the base to the narrow 

 top. Lateral branches are wide-spreading and rather horizontal near the base, ascending and 

 short at the top. Forest grown specimens have straight, slightly tapering, rather smooth 

 trunks which are free from branches often for 50 ft. from the ground. 



BARK Grayish-brown to brown, with long furrows separating long, rather loose, scaly ridges. 

 See Fig. 85. 



TWIGS Usually slender, round, usually smooth but sometimes slightly hairy, shiny, bitter, 

 covered with a few orange-colored inconspicuous lenticels, and contain white pith which may 

 show a tendency to become chambered. 



BUDS Alternate, circular in cross-section, densely covered with thick, pale, silky hairs, 

 terminal buds about 2/5-4/5 of an inch long and oblong; lateral buds 4-i of an inch long, blunt- 

 pointed, nearly surrounded by leaf-scars. Buds are covered with valvate scales, the outer 

 ones falling in spring, the inner ones developing into stipules. 



LEAVES Alternate, simple, ovate to oblong, thin, 4-12 inches long, pointed at apex, tapering 

 or rounded at base, entire on margin, green and slightly downy beneath, with prominent 

 midrib and primary veins on lower surface. Fall in response to first heavy frost in autumn. 



LEAF-SCARS Alternate, scattered along the twigs, narrow, crescent to broadly U-shaped, 

 with its bundle-scars arranged in a U-shaped line. Bundle-scars number about 6-8. 



FLOWERS Appear from April to June. They are upright, solitary, complete, slender-bell- 

 shaped, greenish tinged with yellow, about 3 inches long. 



FRUIT Matures about October. A red, cone-like or cucumber-like, cylindrical mass about 

 2-2J inches long, composed of numerous coherent follicles. Seeds scarlet, drupe-like, and sus- 

 pended at maturity by long, slender white threads. 



WOOD Diffuse-porous; rays distinct and rather uniform in width; light, soft, brittle, 

 straight-grained, durable, does not warp when seasoning, light yellowish-brown to reddish- 

 brown; sapwood is thin and yellowish-white. Weighs about 29 Ibs. per cubic foot. Used for 

 interior finish, furniture, pump stocks, as a substitute for Yellow Poplar, and for the same 

 uses as White Pine. It is not so strong but more durable than the latter. 



DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERISTICS The Cucumber Tree can be distinguished by its 

 leaves which are thin, oblong, pointed and green beneath. The leaves are larger than those 

 of the Laurel Magnolia and smaller than those of the Umbrella Tree. The corolla is greenish 

 tinged with yellow and the follicles .of the cone-like fruit are rounded while the other two 

 native species have white flowers and tapering follicles. It attains a much larger size and 

 has sharper-pointed buds than the Laurel Magnolia and is considerably larger than the Umbrella 

 Tree but has smaller and more downy buds. The bark is thicker and deeper ridged than either 

 cf the other species. The twigs are brown while those of the Laurel Magnolia are bright green. 



RANGE Western New York and southern Ontario south through West Virginia to Georgia, 

 west to Illinois and Arkansas. 



DISTRIBUTION IN PENNSYLVANIA Found locally across the State from north to south 

 in the mountainous region and on their eastern and western slopes. Recorded as far east as 

 Lancaster county and as far west as Forest and Allegheny counties. Some specimens nearly 5 

 ft. in diameter have been recorded from the northwestern part of the State. 



HABITAT Usually found 'a rich woods close to streams, also inhabits slopes. In West Virginia 

 and in this State it grows well on the soils of the carboniferous formation. It is light-de- 

 manding. 



IMPORTANCE OF THE SPECIES This species is the most important of the Magnolias 

 native to the United States. The wood is similar to that of Yellow Poplar. In addition to 

 producing valuable wood it grows rapidly and is rather free from the attack of destructive 

 agents. The value ot the wood alone will justify reasonable efforts in attempting to propagate 

 it. It is also attractive ornamentally on account of its large loaves and symmetrical crown. 



