30 FLOWERS AND FRUITS. 



the Northern, Middle, and Southern States, where it widely 

 extends along the sea coast from the Bay of Massachusetts to East 

 Florida. It is generally seen as a low tree or shrub, with brittle, 

 white, smooth, branches, and covered with laurel like leaves, 

 whitish on their under surface, and rising from amongst this mass 

 of foliage, in the months of May, June, and July, according to its 

 situation, arises a great number of deliciously odorous, cup-shaped, 

 cream colored flowers; the great length of time in which they 

 continue to bloom adding to their value. The perfume may be 

 smelt at a considerable distance, and we are told that a few of 

 them shut up in a room over night communicate to the air a heavy 

 and insupportable odor. The bark has a bitter, aromatic taste, 

 resembling sassafras, which has occasioned the name ; and classed 

 it in medicine among the aromatic tonics. 



The generic name was given in honor of Professor Magnol, a 

 celebrated botanist of Montpelier in France, and author of some 

 valuable works on that subject. The specific name, from the pecu- 

 liar whiteness of the leaves, which as the wind blows them causes 

 the tree to be known at a considerable distance. It loves swampy 

 grounds the best, and to make it grow in dry places it must be 

 raised from the seed. 



In floral language it is made the emblem of BENEVOLENCE, for 

 as has been remarked, its cream colored flowers, and leaves with 

 a blueish bloom beneath them, are the signs by which Nature 

 points it out to the gatherers of the bark that cures the fevers so 

 frequent in the unhealthy swamps where it delights to grow. It 

 should teach us the lesson that if we improve Nature's gifts, and by 

 patient observation discover her secrets, we will find a remedy for 

 every disease, and be free not only from pain, but all its unpleasant 

 and debilitating consequences. 



