394 WILSON EXPEDITION TO CHINA 



Magnolia Nicholsoniana Rehder & Wilson, n. sp. 



Frutex v. arbor tenuis, 4-6-metralis, ramis gracilibus; ramuli homo- 

 tini sparse sericeo-pilosi, mox glabrescentes, annotini glabri, cinereo- 

 flavidi, laeves, vetustiores cinereo-purpurei ; gemmae terminales 

 cylindrico-oblongae, acutae, rufo-pilosae. Folia decidua, sparsa, 

 elliptico-oblonga v. obovato-oblonga, acuta v. breviter acuminata, 

 basi late cuneata v. rarius rotundata, 8-12 cm. longa et 3-5 cm. lata, 

 supra glabra, obscure viridia, subtus glaucescentia, glabra costa 

 media dense accumbenti-rufo-pilosa excepta, nervis utrinsecus 10- 

 14 subtus elevatis venulisque leviter elevatis; petioli graciles, 1.5- 

 4.5 cm. longi, initio rufo-pilosi, demum glabrescentes. Flores simul 

 cum foliis, cupulares, 9-10 cm. diam., albi, gynaeceo rubro, fragrantes; 

 pedicellus 3-3.5 cm. longus, cicatricem bracteae spathoideae 6-8 mm. 

 infra sepala gerens, laxe subaccumbenti-rufo-pilosus, sed supra cica- 

 tricem glaber; sepala petalaque plerumque 12, exteriora obovato- 

 oblonga, 3.5-5 cm. longa et 2.2-2.5 cm. lata, acutiuscula, ea seriei 

 mediae obovata, 4-5 cm. longa, et 2.4-3 cm. lata, apice rotundata, 

 interiora elliptico-oblonga, obtusa v. acutiuscula, basim versus an- 

 gustata, 2.5-3.5 cm. longa et 1-1.8 cm. lata; stamina numerosa, 

 erecto-patentia, 9-10 mm. longa, filamentis rubris 1.5-2 mm. longis 

 anthera angustioribus, connectivo apice truncato v. obtuso; gynae- 

 ceum cum parte staminifera 2.5 cm. longum, rubrum; carpella pauca, 

 stigmate apice leviter recurvo 3-4 mm. longo acuto. Fructus nutans, 

 cylindrico-oblongus, 4-5 cm. longus; carpella matura congesta, aperta 

 naviculiformia, valvis plerumque apice et basi cohaerentibus 1-1.5 

 longis et 6-8 mm. altis, supra manifeste rostrata rostro patenti v. 

 recurvo; semina 1-2 in quoque carpello, late triangulari-obovoidea, 

 apice truncata, interdum latiora quam longa, compressa, 8-9 mm. 

 longa V. lata scarlatina, testa interiore brunnea, non sulcata. 



Western Szech'uan : Wa-shan, thickets, alt. 2300-2800 m., June 

 and September 1908 (No. 838). 



This species is closely allied to M. Wilsonii Rehder which is distinguished by 

 its vinous-red colored bark, shorter petioles, somewhat differently shaped leaves 

 densely covered with gray, velvety pubescence on the under surface, fewer sepals and 

 petals (the inner and secondary series uniform in size and shape), and in the stout 

 peduncle villose along its entire length with bract-scars situated near the middle. 

 The fruit is also generally larger and the seeds a little different in shape. Magnolia 

 Nicholsoniana is very rare and is only known to occur in the moist thickets and 

 woodlands on and around Wa-shan. It is in cultivation in the Arnold Arboretum. 



As a tribute of respect to the memory of a man of exceptional merit this species 

 is named for the late George Nicholson, for fifteen years Curator of the Royal 

 Gardens, Kew, and a great authority on hardy ligneous plants. 



