CHAP. HI. M AGNOLi A^CEJE. MAGNO v LI^. 261 



§ i. Magnol'iastrum. 



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Derivation. Magndl'ia. ; and astrum, from ad instar, an affixed particle, signifying likeness. 



Sect. Char. American species, with one spathe-like bractea enclosing the 

 flower-bud ; ovaries approximate ; anthers bursting outwards. (Don's 

 MUl., I p. 83.) 

 1 1. Magno v lL4 grandiflo v ra L. The large-flowered Magnolia. 



Identification. Lin. Sp., 755. ; Lam. 111., 490. ; Mich. Arb., 3. p. 71. ; Du.Ham. Arb. Nouv. 2. p. 219.; 



Dec. Prod., 1. p. 80. ; Don's Mill., 1. p. 82. 

 Synonymes. Laurel-leaved Magnolia, the large-flowered evergreen Magnolia, the Laurel Bay, 



big Laurel, the large Magnolia ; Laurier tulipier, .Fr.;in Louisiana ; Magnolie a gran des Fleurs, 



Fr. ; grossblumiger Magnolie, or Bieberbaum (Beaver-wood Tree), Ger. 

 Engravings. Mill. Ic., 2. t. 172. ; Mich. Arb., 3. p. 71. t. 1. ; Du Ham. Arb., 2. p. 219. t. 65. ; E. of 



PI., 7904. ; and our PI. I. in Vol. II. 



Spec. Char. Evergreen. Leaves oval-oblong, coriaceous, upper surface shin- 

 ing, under surface rusty. Flowers erect, 9 — 12 petals, expanding. (Don's 

 Mill., i. 82.) North America. Flowers white. June to Sept. 1737. 

 Varieties. The aboriginal varieties, that is, those which have been found 

 in a wild state in North America, are few, or perhaps only the M. g. obo- 

 vata; because it is uncertain whether the original Exmouth magnolia, which 

 has been so extensively propagated, was an imported plant, or one raised 

 from seed on the spot. The principal varieties cultivated in the London 

 and Paris nurseries are the following : — 



£ M. g. 2 obovdta Ait. The obovate-leaved large-flowered Magnolia. — 

 Leaves obovate-oblong. Flowers expanded. (Hort. Kew., vol. iii. 

 p. 329.) This seems to be the only variety found in a wild state. 

 In British gardens it is a magnificent plant, the broad ends of its 

 leaves forming a conspicuous feature, and distinguishing it readily 

 from the original species, the leaves of which are pointed ; but it 

 does not flower freely. 

 1 M. g. 3 rotundifolia Swt. The round-leaved large-flowered Magnolia. 

 (Sift. Hort. Brit., p. 14.) — Leaves roundish. Not a very distinct or 

 handsome variety, and not a free flowerer. 

 ? M. g. 4 exoniensis Hort. The Exmoidh large-flowered Magnolia. — 

 The leaves are oblong-elliptical, generally rusty underneath. Flowers 

 somewhat contracted. M. g. stricta in some gardens. Figured in 

 Lodd. Bot. Cab., 1814J and in our Second Volume. This is the most 

 distinct of all the varieties of the species, and, on account of its 

 flowering early and freely, the one best deserving of general culture. 

 It forms a tall, fastigiate, elegant bush, or tree, and has attained the 

 height of 30 ft., as a standard, at various places in the south of Eng- 

 land. 



5 M. g. 5 ferruginea Sims. The rws^-under-surfaced-leaved large-flowered Magnolia ; or the 

 rusty-leaved evergreen Magnolia— This differs from the preceding in having rather broader 

 leaves and larger flowers, and in forming a broader and more compact tree or bush. 



i M. g. 6 lanceolata Ait. Bot. Mag. t. 1952. The lanceolate-leaved large-flowered Magnolia. 

 — This differs from the preceding varieties, in not having the leaves rusty underneath ; in 

 not being quite so fastigiate in general form as the former, nor so broad and bushy as the 

 latter. 



<t M. g. 7 elliptica Ait. The ellipticleaved large-flowered Magnolia. — Leaves oblong-elliptical, 

 flowers contracted as in the three preceding varieties, from which it differs only in the 

 form of the leaves. 



I M. g. 8 angustifolia Hort. The narrow-leaved large-flowered Magnolia. 



— Leaves lanceolate, pointed at both extremities, wavy. A very 

 distinct variety, introduced from Paris about 1825, which has not 

 yet flowered in England. The best specimens of this variety are in 

 the London Horticultural Society's garden ; in the arboretum of 

 Messrs. Loddiges ; and in Lee's Nursery. 



1 M. g. 8 precox Hort. The ear/y-flowering large -floivered Magnolia. 



— Leaves oval-oblong. Flowers fuliy expanded. This is an early 



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