276 



ARBORETUM AND FRUTICETUM. 



PART 111, 



i 7. M. auricula'ta Lam. The mvncXed-leaved Magnolia. 



Identification. Willd. Sp., 2. p. 1258. ; Dec. Prod., 1. p. 80. ; Hayne Deiid., 117. ; Don's Mill, 

 1. p. 83. ' 



Synonymes. M. Fr&sen" Walt. ; M. auricul?iris SaJish. ; Indian Physic, and long-leaved Cucumber 

 Tree, Amer. ; Magnolier auricula, Fr. ; geohrter (eared) Bieberbaum Ger 



ETigravings. Bot. Mag., 1206. ; E of PI. 7916. ; and our plate in Vol. II. 



Sjjec. Char. Deciduous. Leaves smooth, under surface somewhat glaucous, 

 spathulately obovate, cordate at the base, with blunt approximate auricles. 

 Sepals 3_, spreading. Petals 9, oblong, (Don's Mill., i. p. 83.) A tree of the 

 middle size. North America. Yellowish-white flowers. April and Mav. 

 1786, ^ ^ 



Description. This tree attains the height of from 40 ft. to 45 ft,, with a 

 straight trunk 12 in, or 15 in. in diameter, often undivided for half its length ; 

 the branches spread widely, and ramify but sparingly ; and this circumstance, 

 Michaux observes, gives the tree a very peculiar air, so that it may readily be 

 known at a distance, even in winter. The leaves are of a light green colour, 

 of a fine texture, 8 in. or 9 in. long, and from 4 in. to 6 in, broad : on young 

 and vigorous trees they are often one third, or even one halt; larger. "They 

 are smooth on both surfaces, acuminate at the summit, widest near the top, 

 and narrowest_ towards the bottom. The base is divided into rounded lobes, 

 whence is derived the specific name of auriculata. The flowers are 3 in. or 

 4 in. in diameter, of a milky white, of an agreeable odour, and are situated at 

 the extremity of the young shoots, which are of a purplish red, dotted with 

 white. The fruit_ is oval, 3 in. or 4 in. long, and, hke that of MagnohV/ tri- 

 petala, of a beautiful rose colour when ripe. They differ from those of the 

 other species by ahttle inferiority of size, and by a small appendage which ter- 

 minates the carpels. Each carpel contains one or two seeds. The wood is soft, 

 spongy, very light, and unfit for use. The bark is grey, and always smooth' 

 even on the oldest trees. When the epidermis is removed, the cellular integu- 

 ment, by contact with the air, instantly changes from white to yellow. The 

 bark has an agreeable aromatic odour, and an'infusion of it in some spirituous 

 liquor is employed as an excellent sudorific in rheumatic affections, (Michaux.) 

 In England, annual shoots of young plants are from 1 ft to 2 ft. or more in 

 length ; and the height which the tree usually attains in 10 years is from 10 ft. 

 to 15 ft. The highest tree within ten miles of London is at Messrs. Loddiges's, 

 where it has attained the height of 30 ft. The following extract from Bar- 

 tram's Travels will be read with interest, " This exalted peak 1 named 

 Mount Magnolia, from a new and beautiful species of that celebrated family of 

 flowering trees, which here, at the cascades of FalUng Creek, grows in a high 

 degree of perfection. I had, indeed, noticed this curious tree several tinies 

 before, particularly on the high ridges betwixt Sinica and Keowe, and on 

 ascending the first mountain after leaving Keowe, where I observed it in flower : 

 but here it flourishes and commands our attention. This tree (or perhaps 

 rather shrub) rises 18 ft. to 30 ft. in height. There are usually many stems from 

 a root, or source, which lean a little, or slightly diverge from each other, in 

 this respect imitating the Magn6h« tripetala; the crooked wreathing branches 

 arising and subdividing from the main stem without order or uniformity ; their 

 extremities turn upwards, producing a very large rosaceous, perfectly white, 

 double, or polypetalous, flower, which is of a most fragrant scent, this fine 

 flower sits in the centre of a radius of very large leaves, which are of a singular 

 figure, somewhat lanceolate, but broad towards their extremities, terminating 

 with an acuminated point, and backwards they attenuate, and become very 

 narrow towards their bases, terminating that way with two long narrow ears, or 

 lappels, one on each side of the insertion of the petiole. The leaves have only 

 short footstalks, sitting very near each other, at the extremities of the florife- 

 rous branches, from which they spread themselves after a regular order, hke 

 the spokes of a wheel ; their margins touching, or lightly lapping upon, each 

 other, form an expansive umbrella, superbly crowned or crested with the 

 fragrant flower, representing a white plume. The blossom is succeeded by a 



