THE 
AMERICAN  JOURNAL  OF  PHARMACY. 
APRIL,  1872. 
ON  THE  FRUIT  OF  MAGNOLIA  TRIPETALA. 
By  Wallace  Procter. 
An  Inaugural  Essay. 
Among  the  numerous  trees  which  are  embraced  in  the  flora  of 
North  America,  none  are  more  interesting  as  a  group  than  those  be- 
longing to  the  natural  order  Magnoliacece,  and  especially  those  of  the 
genus  Magnolia. 
The  chemical  relations  of  the  several  species  of  Magnolia  have  been 
but  partially  examined  ;  the  species  glauca  and  grandiflora  only  hav- 
ing been  submitted  to  analysis.  In  the  following  essay  an  attempt 
has  been  made  to  isolate  the  principal  chemical  constituents  of  the 
species  tripelala  or  umbrella  tree. 
According  to  Dr.  Wood  (U.  S.  Disp.),  this  is  a  small  tree,  some- 
times, though  rarely,  reaching  an  elevation  of  thirty  feet  and  almost 
always  having  an  inclined  trunk.  It  is  remarkable  for  the  size  of  its 
leaves  and  flowers.  The  former  are  eighteen  or  twenty  inches  long, 
by  seven  or  eight  in  breadth,  thin,  obovate,  somewhat  wedge-shaped, 
entire,  acute  at  both  extremities,  pubescent  when  young,  and  often 
disposed  in  rays  at  the  extremities  of  the  shoots,  displaying  a  dome- 
like surface  thirty  inches  in  diameter.  Hence  has  arisen  the  name 
"  umbrella  tree,"  by  which  this  species  is  distinguished  The  flowers 
are  terminal,  seven  or  eight  inches  in  diameter,  white,  with  from  five 
to  twelve  oval  acute  petals,  of  which  the  three  outer  are  reflex ed. 
Michaux  says  that  the  umbrella  tree,  first  seen  in  the  northern  part 
of  the  State  of  New  York,  is  multiplied  further  south  in  the  valley  of 
the  Susquehanna,  but  is  most  abundant  in  the  Carolinas,  Georgia  and 
Tennessee.    It  prefers  a  deep  soil  and  a  shady  locality.    The  fruit 
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