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Genus 26 . Magnolia, Magnolia. Class XIII. Polyandria, 
Order VII. Polygynia. 
Species 1. Swamp Magnolia. (Magnolia Glauca.) 
The Swamp Magnolia usually grows about fifteen or sixteen feet high, with a slender stem, 
covered with a smooth whitish bark. The wood is white and spongy. Leaves thick and smooth, 
resembling those of the Bay, entire, dark green on their upper surface, but whitish or glaucous, 
and a little hairy underneath. The flowers are produced in May or June at the extremity of the 
branches; they are white, and have an agreeable sweet scent; and have only six concave petals. 
After these are past the fruit increases to the size of a Walnut with its cover, an inch or more in 
length, and three fourths of an inch in diameter, of a conical shape: the seed is about the size of a 
kidney-bean. This fruit is at first green, afterwards red, and when ripe, of a brown colour. In 
North America, where it grows naturally in low moist or swampy ground, there is a succession of 
flowers on the trees for two months or more: but in England there are seldom more than twelve or 
fourteen flowers on a tree, and those of short duration. 
The young plants frequently retain their leaves through the greatest part of winter, and often 
do not fall, till the young shoots thrust them off; but when they are three or four years old, they 
constantly cast their leaves by the beginning of November. 
In the Kew catalogue however the deciduous is distinguished from the evergreen Swamp 
Magnolia. 
The greatest number of these trees, which are now growing in England, are at his Grace the 
Duke of Norfolk's, at Worksop Manor, in Nottinghamshire. 
It was cultivated in 1688 , being inserted by Ray in his catalogue of rare exotic trees and 
shrubs cultivated in the episcopal garden at Fulham, by bishop Compton, to whom it was sent by 
Banister.* 
In America this tree is known by the name of White Laurel , Swamp Sassafras , and Beaver Tree . 
It has the last name, because the root is eaten as a great dainty by Beavers; and this animal is 
caught by means of it. Kalm says that this tree drops its leaves early in autumn, though some of 
the young trees keep them all the winter. This corresponds with what Mr. Miller affirms, as stated 
above. Kahn also reports, that he has seldom found the Beaver tree to the north of Pensylvania, 
where it begins to flower at the end of May. These trees may then be discovered by the scent of 
the blossoms at the distance of three quarters of a mile, if the wind be favourable. It is beyond 
description pleasant to travel in the woods at that season, especially in the evening. They retain 
their flowers for three weeks, and even longer. The berries also look very handsome, when they 
are ripe, being of a rich red colour, and hanging in bunches on slender threads. 
Species 2. Blue Magnolia. (Magnolia Acuminata.) 
This tree grows sometimes to the height of thirty or forty feet, and the trunk is eighteen inches 
or more in diameter. Leaves near eight inches long, and five broad. The flowers come out early 
in the spring, are composed of twelve large blueish-coloured petals. The fruit is about three 
* Hist. p. 1798- 
