Handbook of Teees of the ISToktheen States and Canada. 205 



This tree, the northernmost and one of the 

 largest representatives of the genus in 

 America, attains in the forest the height of 

 SO or 90 ft, with straight columnar trunk 3 or 

 4 ft, in diameter, vested in a grayish brown 

 scaly-ridged bark. When isolated it develops 

 a wide rounded pyramidal top and is always 

 a tree of marked appearance on account of its 

 large handsome leaves. It inhabits mountain 

 slopes and the gravell}' banks of streams, 

 rarely if ever forming pure tracts of forest, 

 but in company with various Oaks and Hick- 

 ories, the Tulip Tree, Sweet Birch, Sugar 

 Maple, White Ash, etc. 



The hardiest of the Magnolias, it is exten- 

 sively planted as an ornamental shade tree, 

 for which it is peculiarly appropriate, owing 

 to its good habit of growth and the abundance 

 of its ample leaves, which cast a dense shade 

 and in autumn assume a pale yellow color. 



Its wood is light, a cubic foot when abso- 

 !utel3' dry weighing 29.23 pounds, soft, easily 

 worked and durable. 



It is very similai- to the White-wood in 

 properties and applicable to the same uses. 

 It is also valued for pump logs, troughs, etc., 

 on account of its great durability. i 



Leaves deciduous, scattered on the branclilets, 

 7-10 in. long, oblong or oval, rounded or slightly 

 cordate at base, acute or acuminate at apex, thin, 

 glabrous, dark green above, paler and more or 

 iess pubescent beneath, Flmeers oblong bell- 

 sbaped, nioi'e or less inclospd, pale yellowish 

 green, glaucous, the membraneous sepals 1-1 V2 in. 

 long, and the thick obovate concave petals 2-2 V2 

 in. long, the three of the outer row narrower than 

 those of the inner. Fruit oblong, usually curved, 

 glabrous, dark red.- 



Var. cortjata Sarg. is a form with broader leaves 

 and more heart-shaped at base and smaller yellow 

 flowers, is found in cultivation anrl approximated 

 by wild flowers in South f'aralina and Alabama. 



1. A. W., I, 1. 



2. For genus see p. 434. 



