150 AMERICAN HANDBOOK 



It prefers a rich moist loam, though it will 

 grow in any situation. 



MAGNOLIA, Linnceus. Nat. Ord. Magnolia- 

 ceae. Poly andria, Poly gynia, Linn. Calyx 3- 

 leaved. Petals 9. Carpels collected gene- 

 rally in a crowded spike, each opening by 

 the external surface; 1-2-seeded. Seeds 

 berry-like, hanging from the carpels by 

 threads when ripe. 



1. M. ACUMINATA, Linnwus. Leaves ovate, 

 tapering to a point. Fruit cylindrical, resem- 

 bling, before ripe, a small cucumber. Blue 

 magnolia ; cucumber-tree. 



Cultivated, this is the finest of the family. 

 In common with all the deciduous magno- 

 lias, this is very artificial in its appearance, 

 and well adapted on that account to many 

 peculiar situations in a garden. The fine 

 specimens at Bartram are rather round or 

 flattish-headed, having lost their lower 

 branches; but the specimens in Marshall's 

 garden are of the most beautiful and regular 

 conical shape. Having no leaves but at the 

 extremities, we look up into this specimen 

 as to an immense umbrella. This is about 



