156 



LAUREL MAGNOLIA. 

 Magnolia virginiana, Linnaeus. 



FORM — Usually a small tree or shrub seldom exceeding a height of 25 ft. but in the south, 

 particulaily in Florida, may attain a height of 75 ft. with a diameter of 3 feet. In Pennsyl- 

 vania rather small. Trunk usually short, often much swollen at the base. 



BARK — Oil old trunks thin, gray, smooth to scaly; on young stems light gray to white 

 and smooth. 



TWIGS — Green, round, bitter, relatively slender, downy, later reddish-brown, roughened by 

 broadly crescent-shaped leaf-scars. Pith has a tendency to become chambered. 



BUDS — Alternate, bright green, 2/5-3/5 of an inch long, circular in cross-section, pointed, 

 decidedly hairy, covered by successive pairs of stipules. Each pair of stipular scales 

 envelopes the leaf just above it. 



LEAVES — Alternate, simple, oval to broadly lanceolate, 3-6 inches long, obtuse at apex, 

 tapering at base, entire on margin, glaucous beneath. Fall off in autumn in the North but 

 persist in the South, Persist until spring in Franklin county, Pennsylvania. 



LEAF-SCARS — Alternate, scattered along twig, narrow, oval to crescent-shaped, with its 

 bundle-scars arranged in a broad U-shaped line. 



FLOWERS — Appear the latter part of May in this State. Complete, solitary, globular, white, 

 calyx and corolla of same color, about 2 inches long, and very fragrant. 



FRUIT — Matures about October. Cone-like, fleshy to dry, scarlet, oval, about 2 inches long, 

 composed of coherent follicles. Seeds are red, shiny, drupe-like and suspended at maturity 

 by a thin long cord. 



WOOD — Similar to that of the Cucumber Tree, page 157, except that its rays are higher 

 and more crowded on the cross-section than those of the Cucumber Tree. Produces wood of com- 

 mercial size only in the South. Weighs 31.38 lbs, per cubic foot. 



DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERISTICS— The Laurel Magnolia, also known as Small Mag- 

 nolia, or Sweet Bay, can be distinguished by its leaves which are scattered along the branches, 

 3-6 inches long, oval, obtuse, and glaucous beneath. The leaves of both the other native 

 species are larger. The flowers are globular and white while those of the Cucumber Tree 

 are slendor-bell-shaped and greenish tinged with yellow, and those of the Umbrella Tree are 

 only slightly scented. The leaf-buds are silky while those of the Umbrella Tree are smooth 

 or slightly hairy. Its small size will also aid in distinguishing it. The "Distribution in 

 Pennsylvania" of the three native species will also aid in identifying them. 



RANGE — Eastern Massachusetts, south to Florida, extending west to Caledonia near Cham- 

 bersburg, Pennsylvania, central North Carolina and through the Gulf States to Texas and 

 southern Arkansas. 



DISTRIBUTION IN PENNSYLVANIA— Found only in the southeastern part of the State. 



Recorded from every county southeast of a line drawn through Northampton, Lehigh, Lebanon, 

 Cumberland and Franklin counties. Its western limit is at Caledonia near Chambersburg io 

 Franklin county. 



HABITAT — Prefers swamps and wet places. Found along creeks or in bottomlands adjoining 

 creeks, lakes, or ponds. Often a low shrub under moisture-seeking trees like Red Maple, Yellow 

 Birch, Black Gum, White Oak, Hemlock, White Pine, and Tulip Tree. Its associates often ar« 

 Rhododendron and Mountain Laurel. 



IMPORTANCE OF SPECIES — This species is of no commercial importance in Pennsylvania 

 because of its small size, limited distribution, slow growth, and inferior wood. It is extremely 

 attractive and may be classified among our most beautiful native shrubs. It is well adapted for 

 ornamental planting, only it grows rather slowly. 



