MAGNOLIA 



MAGNOLIA OBDEB 



MAGNOLIA 175 



great profusion from February to tlie end 

 of June, the first flowers opening before 

 tbe development of the leaves. 



The variety Soulangecma is prob- 

 ably a hybrid between M. conspicua and 

 M. ohovata. Its large white flowers are 

 deeply tinted with reddish-purple. Soul- 

 amgeoma nigra is a variety with dark 

 plum-ooloured flowers. Lenni is also a 

 fine free-flowering variety said to be a 

 liybrid between ohovata and conspicua. 

 There are other forms known as Ahx- 

 andrina, cyathiformis, speciosa, specta- 

 bilis, superha, triumphans &c. scarcely 

 distinguishable. That known as striata 

 is said to be a cross between Soulangeana 

 and ohovata. 



Culture do. as above. The flowers 

 should be protected with canvas or mat- 

 ting in the event of frosty weather. 



M. cordata. — A deciduous tree which 

 grows 40-50 ft. high in N.America. Leaves 

 ieart-shaped, rather oval, acute, 4-6 in. 

 long, smooth above, woolly beneath. The 

 erect, scentless yellow flowers lined with 

 purple have 6-9 oblong petals, and appear 

 from April to July, and are about 4 in. 

 across. Botanioally this is regarded as a 

 variety of M. acummata. 



Culture So. as above. 



M. Fraseri (M. mu/riculata).—A fine 

 ■deciduous tree with spongy wood, native 

 •of the Sotithern United States, where it 

 attains a height of 30-50 ft. The smooth, 

 spoon-shaped leaves are a foot or more 

 long, heart-shaped at the base, with blunt 

 auricles, the under surface being some- 

 what glaucous. The erect creamy yel- 

 lowish-white flowers are very sweet- 

 scented, 3-4 in. across, and have 9 oblong 

 petals. 



Culture dc. as above. 



M. glauca. — A beautiful evergreen 

 «hrub from the Eastern United States, 

 where it reaches a height of 15 ft. 

 ■or more and is known as the Laurel 

 Magnolia or Sweet Bay. The elliptic 

 obtuse leathery leaves are bluish-green 

 above, silvery beneath. The fragrant 

 globular flowers, with 9-12 oval concave 

 petals, are about 3 in. across, and of a 

 ■creamy-white when first open, changing 

 to pale apricot with age. 



The variety major (or thompsoniana) 

 is a very vigorous form with leaves and 

 flowers much larger than those of the type. 



CuUu/re da. as above. A moist soil 



composed of peat and loam suits this 

 species best. 



M. grandiflora. — This stately ever- 

 green tree isknown as the Laurel Magnolia 

 of the S. United States, where it attains 

 a height of 70-80 ft. In this country there 

 are specimens 50 ft. or more high. The 

 oval, oblong, leathery, deep green, shining 

 leaves with a rusty under surface are 

 characteristic of this species. The erect 

 sweet-scented white flowers 6-8 in. across, 

 with 9-12 petals, are produced freely 

 during July and August on trees which 

 have beoomS well-established. 



The Laurel Magnolia is met with in 

 many gardens grown either as a bush 

 tree or trained against a wall with a 

 south aspect, and does equally well in 

 both positions. Cold north and easterly 

 winds are apt to damage the young 

 growths sometimes, and it is therefore 

 desirable to secure a position sheltered 

 from these as much as possible. 

 Culture dc. as above. 

 M. hypoleuca. — A fine Japanese tree, 

 60 ft. high or more in its native country. 

 The leaves are 12 in. or more long, and 

 6-7 in. broad, deep green, smooth above, 

 covered with white hairs beneath. The 

 deliciously fragrant, creamy white flowers 

 are 6-7 in. across, with a mass of brilliant 

 scarlet stamens in the centre. 

 Culture da. as above. 

 . M. Kobus {M. Thu/rheri).— Another 

 Japanese species 70-80 ft. high in a wild- 

 state. The leaves are 6-7 in. long, and 

 the creamy white flowers are 4-5 in. 

 across, and appear in May before the 

 leaves. This species has been grown in 

 Kew Gardens for several years. 

 Culture dc. as above. 

 M. raacrophylla. — A very handsome 

 deciduous tree with smooth white bark. 

 It reaches a height of 30 ft. in N. America. 

 As the name indicates, the beautiful green 

 leaves are very large, 1-3 ft. long, 

 8-10 in. broad, oblong-obovate, somewhat 

 fiddle-shaped, heart-shaped at the base, 

 the under surface being covered with 

 white hairs. The open beU-shaped sweet- 

 scented flowers, with 6-9 oval petals, 

 appear in June, and are white with a 

 purple blotch at the base, and measure 

 8-10 in. across. 



This species must be considered as 

 tender except in the most favoured spots. 

 It prefers warm soils. 

 Culture da. as abovBi 



