GUCUMBER-TREE 



entire habit is changed ; the branches start low, become 

 pendent, and by the time the tree is thirty feet high, the ends 



of the lower branches sweep the 

 ground, making the contour a 

 beautiful cone, and beneath 

 the branches a perfect tent. 



Flowering Branch of Cucumber-tree, Magnolia acuminata. 



Such a tree having its branches tipped with pink fruit pre- 

 sents in September a unique and striking appearance. 



The spray of the Cucumber, like that of all large-leaved 

 trees, is coarse. The effect of the foliage, however, is singu- 

 larly fine, for the leaves are of a clear 

 bright green, arranged alternately 

 along the branch and short petioled, 

 so that they have little independent 

 motion, and the branch sways as a 

 ■ whole when moved by the wind. 



The flowers are not so beautiful nor 

 so conspicuous as those of the other 

 magnolias, for their greenish yellow 

 color causes them virtually to be lost 

 among the leaves. 



The fruit is a cylinder-shaped bunch 

 borne at the end of the branch, with a 

 tendency as it matures to turn up. When 

 green this somewhat resembles a cucumber, whence the name 

 of the tree. In September the little cucumber turns pink, 



13 



Cucumber-tree Fruit Discharg- 

 ing its Seed. 



