392 WILSON EXPEDITION TO CHINA 



et 5.5-6 cm. diam.; carpella matura lignea, monosperma, valvis 

 rectangulari-rhombicis 2-2.5 cm. altis et 1.2-1.5 cm. longis margine 

 exteriore truncatis supra breviter rostratis rostro 2-3 mm. longo, 

 infra vix v. non rostratis; semina obovoidea, apice rotundata, circiter 

 12 mm. longa et 10 mm. lata, compressa, testa interiore nigrescente, 

 ventre leviter sulcata. 



Western Hupeh: north and south of Ichang, cultivated, alt. 300- 

 1300 m.. May 11 and October 1907 (No. 652, type); without locality, 

 May 1900 (Veitch Exped. No. 371); without locality, A. Henry (No. 

 5389). Szech'uan: without locality, A. Henry (No. 5389'*). 



This species has been confused with M. obovata Thunberg {M. hypoleuca Siebold 

 & Zuccarini) and naturally enough, as the foliage of the two species is identical. 

 But with the complete material before us it becomes obvious that they are distinct, 

 if closely related, species. The Japanese species has purplish bark; staminal 

 and carpellary column 4 cm. or more long, acutish at the summit; the filaments 

 9-15 mm. long, anthers 16-18 mm. long; fruit cylindrical, 13-20 cm. long, 4.5- 

 5.5 cm. wide, somewhat pointed at the apex and attenuate at the base; ripe car- 

 pels with long, usually slightly recurved beaks and rather thin walls. If these 

 characters are compared with those of the Chinese species it will be seen that the 

 differences, if few, are of relatively great importance, particularly those of the fruit 

 which is ovoid-oblong in the new species, truncate at the apex and rounded at the 

 base, the lowest carpels being rounded at the base, not decurrent as in M. ob- 

 ovata. The different color of the bark enables the trees to be distinguished at 

 any season of the year. The Chinese species is in cultivation at Kew and else- 

 where and comparisons between specimens of the Japanese and Chinese trees will 

 probably result in the discovery of other differences. 



Magnolia officinalis is very commonly cultivated on the mountains of western 

 Hupeh and Szech'uan, but we have not met with a spontaneous tree in the forests. 

 This same remark would apply to many other trees of economic value {Gleditsia 

 and Eucommia, for example) and we do not doubt that these and the Magnolia 

 are truly natives of this region. This new Magnolia does not grow to as large 

 a size as its Japanese relative, though the flowers and foliage are equally hand- 

 some. The Chinese designate this species the " Hou-p'o " tree, and its bark and 

 flower-buds constitute a valued drug which is exported in quantity from central 

 and western China to all parts of the Empire. It is for its bark and flower-buds 

 that the tree is cultivated. The removal of the bark causes the death of the tree 

 and this would account for its disappearance from the forests. The bark when 

 boiled yields an extract which is taken internally as a cure for coughs, colds, and 

 as a tonic and stimulant during convalescence. A similar extract obtained from 

 the flower-buds, which are called " Yu-p'o," is esteemed as a medicine for women. 

 A picture of this tree will be found under No. 582 of the collection of Wilson's 

 photographs and also in his Vegetation of Western China, No. 308. 



This is in all probability the plant referred to as Talauma sp.? by Franchet in 

 Nouv. Arch. Mus. Paris, b6t. 2, VIII. 193 (PL David. II. 11) (1886). 



Magnolia officinalis, var. biloba Rehder & Wilson, n. var. 

 A typo recedit foliis apice profunde emarginatis v. bilobis sinu 

 2-3 cm. alto. 



