Trees of New York State 217 



MAGNOLIACEAE 



Mag:ii(ili:i \irijini;in:i L. [Maf;:nolia <rl;iuc:i L.] 



Sweet Bay, Swamp Bay, Sweet Magnolia 



Habit — III our riiiif^o ;i lAr^' slirub or slender tree 20-.S0 feet in lieight with 

 ;t trunk diameter of ti-!' ini-lies, farther south under oj)tiniuni conditions 

 occasionally 50-70 feet tall. Trunk short, slender, often swollen at the 

 base. Branches erect, at lenfftli spreadiiijr to form ;iii obloii<r or rounded 

 crown. 



lieaves — Altern;ite, oblong to oval, 3-6 inches long, Mj-l^/i inches wide, 

 obtuse or acute at both ends, entire, at m;iturity thick, dark green, smooth 

 and lustrous above, minutely pubescent and pale glaucous below, Vjome 

 on slender petioles M.'-% of :*n inch long, falling in the north during the 

 late autumn. 



Flowers — Appearing in the north over a period of several weeks in late May 

 or early June, terminal, creamy-white, globuhir perfect, fragrant, 2-3 

 inches across. Sepals 3, membranaceous, obtuse, spreading, deciduous. 

 Petals 9-12, obovate, obtuse, concave, erect, deciduous. Stamens numer- 

 ous, inserted in many ranks on the base of the torus, apiculate, with short 

 filaments, deciduous after anthesis. Pistils densely imbricated on the 

 receptacle, each consisting of a fleshy ovary and short recurved style 

 stigmatic on its inner surface. 



Fruit — Aggregate, cone-like, fleshy to dry, oval or ii'regular, about 2 inches 

 long, consisting of nnuiy coherent scarlet follicles which open at maturity 

 along the outer suture to release the fleshy seeds. Seed red, lustrous, 

 drupaceous, compressed, about ^4 of an inch long, suspended at maturity 

 by a long, thin, funicular cord. 



Winter characters — Twigs rather slender, finely pubescent, bright green, 

 at length reddish brown. Pith diaphragmed-stuffed. Buds alternate, 

 ovate-lanceolate, acuminate, bright green, pubescent, %-% of an inch 

 long, covered by stipular bud-scales. Mature bark thin, light brown, 

 smooth or covered with thin, appressed scales. 



Habitat — A moisture-loving species found in swamps, on moist bottom-lands, 

 and along the shores of lakes and streams. 



Range — Eastern Massachusetts south along the coast to Florida and through 

 the Gulf States to southwestern Arkansas and eastern Texas. Attains its 

 largest size on the Flordia peninsula. Contined to Long Island and 

 Staten Island in New York State. Zone A. 



Uses — Xot a valuable timber species. Wood soft, light, rather coarse, pale 

 brown tinged with red, with wide pale sapwood. Used locally in the south 

 in the manufacture of wooden ware. The importance of the species lies 

 rather in the ornamental value of hardv varieties and hvbrids. 



