MAGNOLIACEAE 139 



Stamens and pistils numerous, crowded on the receptacle, the stamens 

 below the pistils. Carpels fleshy, 1 celled and 2 ovuled, 2 seeded. Fruit 

 cone-like, composed of the scarlet or brownish carpels; the carpels 

 dehiscent, opening on the back and exposing the seeds, which are usually 

 scarlet and suspended by slender thread-like, stretching filaments. The 

 outer portion of the seed is fleshy or pulpy, the inner hard and bony, 

 flattened and more or less grooved. 



Less than 30 species are recognized in America and Asia. Fossil 

 remains clearly show that the genus once occupied a very extensive region. 

 The magnolias are ornamental and showy shrubs and trees with large 

 white, pink or purple flowers and handsome foliage. Several showy 

 Chinese species with flowers appearing before the leaves in the early 

 spring have been introduced into general cultivation in Europe and 

 America. All parts of the plant have a bitter aromatic property. In 

 China the powdered seeds of Magnolia denudata are used to allay in- 

 flammatory condition of the throat and eyes. A decoction of the flower 

 buds is taken internally as a medicine. 



Magnolia denudata Desrousseaux. 



(M. conspicua Salisbury.) 



(M. yulan Desfontaines.) Yulan. 



Much-branched deciduous tree with rounded crown up to 16 m. high. 

 Buds large, densely covered with stout, short pubescence. Leaves 7.6-17 

 cm. long, ovate or ovate-oblong, tapering to a short point, shining green 

 above, downy below when young. Flowers in early spring well in 

 advance of the leaves, large, 15 cm. across, white, fragrant. Petals and 

 sepals alike, 9 in number, 10 cm. long. 



In addition to the type with pure white lily-like flowers there are 

 forms or variations with blossoms of a pink or rosy-red color. Also there 

 are in cultivation in Europe and America numerous rosy or purplish 

 flowered hybrids between this species and another (M. liliflora) from 

 China which has deep purple flowers. 



Magnolia delavayi Franchet. 



Evergreen shrub or tree to 9 m. tall. Yunnar. 



