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UMBRELLA TREE. 



Magnolia tripetala, Linnaeus. 



FOKM A small tree sometimes attaining the height of 45 ft. with a diameter of 16 Inches. 

 Trunk short and slender, bearing a broad round-topped crown. Lateral branches stout and 

 spreading, often turned up towards the end. 



BARK Smooth, thick, light gray, roughened by small irregularly scattered projections. 



TWIGS Stout, smooth, shining, at first greenish, later reddish to greenish-brown; better, 

 swollen at the base of each year's growth, covered with a few conspicuous lenticels; contain large, 

 white, pink-dotted pith. 



BUDS Alternate; covered with valvate scales in pairs, each successive pair encloses a leaf; 

 terminal and lateral buds differ much; terminal up to 2 inches in length, narrow, conical, long- 

 pointed, often curved towards the apex, smooth or glaucous, purple, with small dots; lateral 

 small, often barely visible, conical, divergent. 



LEAVES Alternate, simple, obovate-lanceolate, 12-24 inches long, thin-pointed at apex, 

 tapering at base, entire on margin; smooth when old; petioles 1-lf inches long. 



LEAF-SCARS Alternate, often clustered at swellings along the branch, large, conspicuous, 

 oval, somewhat raised, contain numerous irregularly scattered bundle-scars. Stipulate-scars 

 conspicuous, encircle twig, and originate from the side of the leaf-scar. 



FLOWERS Appear about May. Upright, solitary, complete, surrounded by a spray of leaves, 

 white, slightly and unpleasantly odorous, 4-6 inches long. Sepals fall away early. 



FRUIT Matures about October. An oblong rose-colored, cone-like mass about 2-4 inches 

 long composed of many coherent follicles which split open and liberate red flattish seeds. The 

 fruit is very beautiful in autumn. 



WOOD In general resembles that of the Cucumber Tree, page 157. It is not used for 

 commercial purposes, because it is rare, small in size, light, weak, and brittle. Weighs 27.96 

 Ibs. per cubic foot. 



DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERISTICS The Umbrella Tree, also known as Elkwood, is 

 native only to a limited portion of the State in the Susquehanna River valley in the counties 

 of York and Lancaster. It has larger leaf-scars, stouter twigs, larger fruit, larger and 

 smoother buds, and larger leaves than the two other native species of Magnolia. Its leaves are 

 crowded on the summit of the flowering branches in an umbrella-like cluster while those of the 

 other two species are scattered along the branches. It is larger in size than the Laurel Mag- 

 nolia but smaller than the Cucumber Tree. 



RANGE Southern Pennsylvania south to Georgia, west to Kentucky, Arkansas, and northern 

 Mississippi. 



DISTRIBUTION IN PENNSYLVANIA Recorded only in the extreme southern part of the 

 State in Lancaster and York counties along the Susquehanna River. 



HABITAT Usually found in swamps, along streams, or in ravines. It is tolerant of shade 

 and usually occurs solitary; sometimes mixed with other hardwoods. 



IMPORTANCE OF THE SPECIES This tree is of no commercial importance in Pennsylvania 

 on account of its limited distribution, its local and solitary occurrence, and the inferior wood 

 which it produces. It is attracfive and, hence, may be recommended for lawn and park plant- 

 ing, but it cannot be recommended for forestry purposes. 



