The Magnolias and the Tulip Tree 



Uses: Cultivated as an ornamental tree in Europe and America. 

 Hardy to Boston. 



This species excels all other magnolias in the size of its leaves 

 and flowers. The leaves are almost a yard long. In fact, no 

 tree of simple leaf approaches it outside of the tropics. It is 

 the remarkable size of its leaves and flowers that commends this 

 tree to planters. Of beauty we cannot credit it with quality to 

 match its size. A flower as big as a man's head is sure to be 

 lacking in delicacy. There is a dash of purple at the base of the 

 inner row of petals. The wind lashes the broad leaves into 

 ribbons early in summer, and every twig or leaf that touches a 

 petal mars it with a brown bruise. So the flowers soon spread 

 wide open and become discoloured. Two fine young specimens 

 stand in front of the Museum of the Arnold Arboretum, Boston. 

 The protection of the building and the border planting are not 

 sufficient to defend these trees from the common fate of all plants 

 which offer an unusual expanse of leaf surface in a region where 

 winds are frequent and strong. Though but a dozen feet high 

 these trees have already bloomed freely. The silvery leaf linings 

 tend to obscure the white flowers in spite of their extraordinary 

 size. 



People who desire to plant this magnolia do well to shelter 

 it from wind and cold. At best it is but half hardy in the North. 

 It is a curiosity. Prominent situations are better filled by species 

 of tried hardiness, whose beauty is admitted to be a joy at any 

 season. 



Cucumber Tree (Magnolia acuminata, Linn.) Pyramidal 

 tree of spreading habit, 60 to 100 feet high, with trunk 3 to 4 

 feet in diameter. Bark furrowed, thick, coated with brown 

 scales. Wood weak, light, yellowish brown, close grained. Buds 

 silky, pointed, terminal ones longer, larger. Leaves longer than 

 wide, entire, heart-shaped base, acute apex, 6 to 10 inches long, 

 thin, yellow green, sparsely hairy below; yellow in autumn; 

 petioles i to 2 inches long. Flowers inconspicuous because 

 yellowish green, bell shaped, terminal, erect, sepals 3, short, 

 reflexed; petals 6 with long, tapering bases; stamens numerous, 

 pistils numerous on central receptacle. Fruit compound, of 

 many coalesced follicles, distorted by abortion of many; seed 

 scarlet, berry-like, hangs out of 2-valved follicle on elastic thread 

 when ripe. Preferred habitat, rocky uplands near streams; low 



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