THE MAGNOLIA FAMILY. 



513 



Magnolia grandijiora. A native of Carolina, and one of 

 the most conspicuous of trees, sometimes attaining the height 

 of 80 feet or more. It is an evergreen, and has firm ellip- 

 tical leaves from 8 to 10 inches long, smooth and shining on 

 the upper surface and of a rusty brown on the under. The 

 flowers are of a yellowish-white colour, and stand upright in 

 the form of a cup, 6 to 8 inches in diameter ; they are highly 

 fragrant, and are the largest flowers of any tree seen in the 

 open Mr in this country. There are several varieties, some 

 of which are not so hardy as others. One tree at Kew, more 

 than one hundred years old, for many years growing against 

 a wall, but now for more than twenty years standing fully 

 exposed, has attained the height of 23 feet, and a girth of 

 8 feet. 



Magnolia conspicua. A tree, native of China, where it is 

 called " Youlan." It is deciduous, and attains the height of 

 40 or 50 feet, being very much branched, and having large 

 pure white lily-like flowers, which are produced before the 

 leaves expand, and in such profusion as to appear at a dis- 

 tance one compact sheet of white. It was introduced in 

 1789, and one of the original plants is still growing at Kew. 



Michelia Champaca. A large tree, native of India and 

 Burmah, where it is cultivated for its fragrant yellow flowers, 

 and is an object of veneration with the Hindoos. The bark 

 is said to possess medicinal properties. M. Cathcartii and 

 M. excelsa are large trees, natives of Nepal and Sikkim 

 Himalaya. They have large white flowers, which are pro- 

 duced before the leaves, and, where the trees are numerous 

 and contiguous, present the appearance of a snow shower 

 having fallen. Magnolia Camphellii is another lofty tree, 

 native of the same region. It has large red flowers, which 

 are very conspicuous ; plants of it have recently been intro- 

 duced at Kew. 



Winter's Bark {Drimys Winteri). A native of Terra del 

 Fuego, and extending northward through Chili. It has 

 beautiful smooth leaves of an oblong lance form, generally 

 silvery white on the under side. The bark was brought 



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