TREES OF AMERICA. 91 



mous ; they have been seen thirty-five inches 

 long, and ten broad. All the magnolias have 

 large leaves, but none of the other kinds have 

 such monsters as the umbrella-trees. They 

 are all ever-green, thick, smooth, and shining, 

 and of a darker colour on the upper side than 

 the under." 



"And the flowers are very beautiful, too, 

 are they not, sir ?" 



"Yes, exceedingly beautiful ; large, grace- 

 ful, and delicate, and of a very agreeable 

 smell. The flower of the large magnolia is 

 white, and seven or eight inches wide ; that 

 of the small magnolia is also white, and two 

 or three inches broad, with a yellow centre : 

 of the cucumber-tree, five or six inches wide, 

 and of a delicate bluish white : of the heart- 

 leaved cucumber, yellow, and four inches 

 wide : of the umbrella-tree, white, and seven 

 or eight inches broad : and of the large-leaved 

 umbrella, hugest of all, for they are nine 

 inches in diameter, purely white, with a pur- 

 ple spot on the inside of each petal or leaf, 

 near the bottom ; delicious in perfume, and 

 exceedingly beautiful. Fancy the shining 

 dark green leaves, the brilliant large white 

 flowers thickly scattered all over the tree, and 



