SIAGNOLIA FAMILY. 



35 



2. M. aciTmina'ta, L. Leaves oval, acuminate, green and slightly pu- 

 bescent beneath, deciduous ; petals oblong ; cones cylindrical. 

 Acuminate Magnolia. Cucumber tree. 



Fr. Le Magnolier. Germ. Der Gurkenbaum. Span. Arbol de Castor. 



Tree fi-om 50-80 feet high, and 2 -3 or 4 feet in diameter at base. Leaves 6 -10 or 

 12 inches long (on vigorous young saplings much larger — as is usually the case with all 

 trees). Flowers large, bluish white, often with a tinge of yellow ; petals scarcely expand- 

 ing. Fruil sub-cyhndric, 3-5 or 6 inches long. 



Mountain forests, New York to Georgia. Fl. June- July, Fr. Sept. - October. 



Ohs. The green fruit has some resemblance to a Cucumber (whence 

 the common name of the tree) ; and being intensely bitter and somewhat 

 aromatic, a tincture of it, prepared with whiskey, is a popular preventive 

 of autumnal fevers, with those v>^ho are fond of an excuse for taking 

 alcoholic medicine. 



Others of this genus may be cultivated in favorable localities; among 

 them the Yellow Cucumber Tree (M. COrdata, Mx.) , with heart-shaped 

 leaves and cream-colored flowers ; the Ear-leaved Cucumber Tree (M. 

 Fraseri,^^/^-)' which has leaves a foot in length with auriculate lobes 

 at the base ; the Umbrella Tree (M. Umbrella, ^'^^^^ leaves 1-2 

 feet long and tapering at each end ; and the Great-leaved Magnolia (M. 

 macrophylla,-^-?^-) having leaves 2-3 feet in length with a heart-shaped 

 base. The great Laurel Magnolia (M. g^randlflora, L.), with its thick 

 evergreen leaves, which are rusty beneath, and its large deliciously fra- 

 grant flowers, is a native of North Carolina and farther south ; it endures 

 the winter as far north as Philadelphia, and should be planted wherever 

 the winter is not too severe. M, conspicua and M. purpurea are 

 Asiatic species often seen in cultivation in city gardens ; the former 

 bears white and the latter purple flowers, which in both cases appear 

 in early spring, before the leaves are developed. The bark in all the 

 species is bitter and aromatic, and is sometimes used in medicine. 



2. LIRIODEN'DRON, L. Tulip-tree. 



[Greek, Leirion, a lily, and Dendron, a tree ; from its lily-like flowers.] 



Sepals 3. reflexed. Corolla campanulate ; petals 6. Anthers extrorse. 

 Carpels dry and samara-like, indehiscent, densely imbricated in a cone, 

 1-2-seeded. A large tree. Buds ilat. 



1. L. Tulipif'eea, L. Leaves dilated, subcordate at base, 3-lobed, the 

 middle lobe broad and emai-ginately truncate. 



Tulip-bearixg Lieiodendron. Poplar. Tulip Poplar. Tulip-tree. 

 Fr. Le Tulipier. Germ. Der Tulpenbaum. 



Tree 80-120 feet high, and 2 or 3-5 or 6 feet in diameter. Leaves 4-6 inches long 

 on old trees and about as wide as long — the side lobes often with a sinus making two 

 points. Petals greenish-yellow, with tinges of reddish-orauge. Carpels produced at apex 

 into a lanceolate-oblong wing, and closely imbricated in a qone on the fusiform receptacle. 



Rich woodlands : Canada to Louisiana. Fl. May. Fr. October. 



Obs The timber of this magnificent tree is highly valued in many 

 b)'ancnes of tlie mechanic arts, especially the variety called yellow Poplar, 



