Fifty Common Trees of New York 



45 



35. CUCUMBER TREE 



(Magnolia acuminata Linnaeus) 

 Cucumber tree, so called because of its cucumber-like fruit, is the 

 only magnolia that is at all common to this State outside of Long Island. 

 In rich woods, on moist slopes, and along stream courses, from the central 



CUCUMBER TREE 



Fruit and leaf, one-third natural size ; 

 twig', two-thirds natural size 



part of the State westward and southward, it is to be found locally. The 

 wood is light, soft, close-grained, brittle, and light yellowish brown in 

 color. It resembles that of yellow poplar and has much the same uses. 

 Because of its yellowish green flowers, its large leaves, its rapid growth, 

 and its red seeds, it is often found in lawns and parks. 



Bark — grayish brown in color, with long narrow furrows separating 

 into rather loose, scaly, flat-topped ridges. 



Twigs — brittle, brown in color, smooth or shiny, aromatic odor. 



Winter buds — terminal bud oblong, somewhat curved, thickly covered 

 with pale, silky hairs, pointed, about % inch long ; lateral buds smaller, 

 blunt, also hairy. 



Leaves — alternate, simple, egg-shaped, pointed at the tip, from 4 to 10 

 inches long, entire margin. One of the few forest trees of the State that 

 has an entire-margined leaf. 



Fruit — a cone-like or cucumber-like, cylindrical mass, often curved, 

 about 21/2 inches long, containing a large number of scarlet, pea-like 

 seeds which dangle from the ends of short, white threads when ripe in 

 the early autumn. 



