The Magnolias and the Tulip Tree 



almost evergreen leaves. In the wilds of central Alabama and 

 the Blue Ridge of South Carolina has been found the yellow- 

 flowered prototype of this garden form. It is named for its 

 broad, heart-shaped leaves, var. cordaia, of Magnolia acuminata. 

 In cultivation the variety has been considerably modified. 



Umbrella Tree {Magnolia tripetala, Linn.) — A round- 

 topped or conical tree 30 to 40 feet high, of irregular habit, with 

 stout contorted branches and twigs. Bark thin, grey, smooth, 

 with bristly warts. IVood close, soft, pale brown, weak; sap 

 wood yellow. Buds: terminal, purplish with pale bloom, pointed, 

 I inch long; lateral, round, short, reddish brown. Leaves 16 to 

 20 inches long, obovate, acute, entire, tapering narrowly to the 

 stout petiole, smooth, thin, bright green. Flowers white, cup 

 shaped, of unpleasant odour, 4 to 5 inches deep, soon spreading 

 open, the 3 sepals recurved. Fruit elongated, smooth, 2 to 4 

 inches long, rose coloured when ripe; seeds ^ inch long. Preferred 

 habitat, swamp borders and banks of mountain streams. Distri- 

 bution, Pennsylvania to southern Alabama, northeastern Missis- 

 sippi and southwestern Arkansas. Nearly to the coast in South 

 Atlantic States. Uses: An ornamental tree in temperate regions 

 of Eastern States and Europe. 



The flower of this magnolia is surrounded by an umbrella-like 

 whorl of leaves. The whole tree, indeed, suggests an umbrella, so 

 closely thatched is its dome with the glossy leaves. The twigs 

 have a peculiar habit of striking out at right angles from an erect 

 branch, then turning up into a position parallel with the parent 

 branch. This feature, combined with the inevitable forking of 

 each twig that bears a flower, gives the branches angularity and 

 tends to destroy the symmetry of the dome. 



The three recurved sepals are the distinctive feature of the 

 flower. The whole tree is smooth, except when its young shoots 

 unfold. The silky hairs are soon shed. Altogether, this is one 

 of the trimmest and handsomest of our native magnolias. It 

 attains large size in the Arnold Arboretum, proving it hardy in 

 southern New England. 



Ear-leaved Magnolia, Mountain Magnolia (Magnolia 

 Fraseri, Walt.) — Tree 30 to 40 feet high, with small, broad crown 

 above slender, often leaning trunk. Branches stout, angular, 

 erect. Bark thin, brown, smooth, with warty patches. IVood 

 brownish yellow, weak, soft. Buds smooth, purplish; terminal 



254 



