Large-Leaved Umbrella Tree 



391 



buds smooth and pointed. The thin leaves are rhombic- obovate, usually abruptly 

 short-pointed, glabrous, 2.5 dm. long or less, with two basal, somewhat diverging 

 auricles; they are bright green on the upper side, and paler underneath, their stalks 

 3 to 6 cm. in length. The white flowers open in May or June, and are smaller 

 than those of M. Fraseri Walter, the lanceolate, pointed or long-pointed petals 5 

 to 8 cm. long, the stamens only 4 to 7 mm. long, the sepals oblong-obovate, ab- 

 ruptly pointed, early deciduous. The oblong rose-red fruit is 6 to 8 cm, long, the 

 short-beaked carpels yellow within. 



8. LARGE-LEAVED UMBRELLA TREE 



Michaux 



Magnolia macrophylla 



This, the largest leaved tree of the North American flora, inhabits woods, 

 especially wooded ravines or valleys, ranging from Kentucky and North Carolina, to 

 central Florida, westward to Arkansas and Loui- 

 siana, attaining a maximum height of 15 to 20 

 meters, with a trunk up to 5 dm. in diameter. 



The thin pale gray bark is nearly smooth, the 

 round, smooth twigs green, turning reddish or 

 gray. The gigantic leaves are clustered toward 

 the ends of the branches, thin, obovate to oblong- 

 obovate, blunt or blunt-pointed, with two short, 

 rounded auricles at the base, the upper surface 

 deep green and smooth, the under side white- 

 glaucous and more or less finely hairy, at least 

 when young; the stout leaf-stalks are 15 cm. 

 long or less, the midrib very prominent. The 

 creamy white fragrant flowers are 2 to 3 dm. 

 broad, opening from May to July, the bases of 

 the ovate blunt petals purple or rose-colored 

 within; the oblong to obovate blunt sepals are 

 much shorter than the petals. The fruit is nearly globular, 6 to 15 cm. long, 

 bright rose-colored, the carpels short-tipped. 



The tree is ver)- desirable for decorative planting, its enormous leaves and 

 flowers being very striking. Its wood is brown at the heart, with yellowish sap- 

 wood, weak but hard, with a specific gravity of about 0.53. 



Fig. 346. 



Large-leaved Umbrella 

 Tree. 



