Handbook of Tkej-:s of the ISTorthkkn States and Canada. 205 



This tree, tlie northernmost an(i one of the 

 largest representatives of the genus in 

 America, attains in the forest the height of 

 80 or 90 ft. with straight columnar trunk 3 or 

 4 ft. in diameter, vested in a grayish brown 

 scaly-ridgtd bark. When isolated it develops 

 a wide rounded pyramidal to]) and is always 

 a tree of marked appearance on account of its 

 large handsome leaves. It inhabits mountain 

 slopes ami the gravelly baid<s of streams, 

 rarely if ever forming pure tracts of forest, 

 but in company wilh various Oaks and Hick- 

 ories, the Tulip Tree, Sweet Birch, Sugar 

 Maple, White Ash, etc. 



Tlie hardiest of the Magnolias, it is exten- 

 sively planted as an ornamental shade tree, 

 for which it is peculiarly appropriate, owing 

 to its good habit of growth and the abundance 

 of its ample leaves, which cast a dense shade 

 and in autuuui assume a pale yellow color. 



Its wood is light, a cubic foot when abso- 

 lutely dry weighing 29.23 pounds, soft, easily 

 worked and durable. 



It is very similar to the White-wood in 

 proi)erties and applicable to the same uses. 

 It is also valued for pump logs, troughs, etc.. 

 nil account of its great durability. i 



L<nrrs docidiious. scattered on the liranchlets. 

 7-10 ill. Ions, oljlons or oval, rounded or slightly 

 cordate at liase. acute or acuminate at apex. thin, 

 srlabroiis. darl; green above, paler and more or 

 less piil)escent beneath. Floircrs oblong bell- 

 shaped, more or less inclosed, pale yellowish 

 green, glaucous, the membraneous sepals 1-1 V> in. 

 long, and the thick obovate concave petals 2-ii.j 

 in. long, the three of the outer row narrower than 

 those of the inner. Fruit olilong. usually curved, 

 gl.Tl>rous. dark red.- 



Var. cnnliild Sarg. is a form with broader leaves 

 and moi'e bear! sbaped at l)a^e and siiiiiIIit yellow 

 flowers, is found in cultivation and ap|)rn\iniated 

 by wild flowers iu Soutli Carolina and Alabama. 



1. A. W., I, 1. 



-. For genus see p. 434. 



