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DOMESTIC BOTANY. 



THE MAGNOLIA AND CUSTARD APPLE 

 ALLIANCE. 



The Magnolia Family. 



(^Iagxoliaceje.) 



Splendid trees or shrubs, evergreen or deciduous. Leaves 

 alternate, entire, rarely lobed, some with pellucid dots. 

 Flowers solitary, often large and showy. Sepals 3 or 6, de- 

 ciduous. Petals 3, 9, or numerous; often large, thick, and 

 fleshy; imbricate. Stamens free. Fruit consisting of nu- 

 merous carpels, generally united and arranged in a circle, 

 capsule-like, or on an elevated axis, each appearing like a 

 follicle containing 1 or 2 seeds. 



Seventy or more species are described as belonging to this 

 shoAvy and fragrant-flowering family. In North America 

 they are chiefly deciduous. Several species are also found 

 in the East and West Indies, China and Japan. They are 

 represented in Australia by Tasmannia^ and in South America 

 by Winter a. None have been found in Africa. 



Tulip Tree {Liriodendron Tulipifera). A noble tree, native 

 of North America, attaining the height of 80 feet or more, 

 with a diameter of 4 feet. It has 3-lobed leaves, and pro- 

 duces a profusion of yellow flowers of a tulip-like form. The 

 wood is hard and durable, takes a good polish, and is used 

 for many purposes. In this country it attains a large size, 

 two specimens at Kew, more than one hundred years old, 

 being 70 feet high. Magnolia acuminata^ M. macrophylla^ 

 M. cordataj M. auiiculata, and M. tripetala^ are small deci- 

 duous trees, natives of North America and hardy. M. ma- 

 crophylla has the largest simple leaf of any tree growing in 

 the open air in this country. M. glauca, also a native of 

 North America, is a handsome branching tree, 20 feet or 

 more in height, having elliptical leaves, silvery on the under 

 side, and well known for its fragrant flowers. In the United 

 States it is called Swamp Sassafras. The bark and seeds are 

 aromatic and pungent, and are used medicinally. 



