Magnolia grandiflora - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia http://en.wikipedia.

org/wiki/Magnolia_grandiflora

Magnolia grandiflora
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Magnolia grandiflora, commonly known as the Southern magnolia or bull bay, Southern Magnolia
is a tree of the family Magnoliaceae native to the southeastern United States,
from coastal Virginia south to central Florida, and west to eastern Texas and
Arkansas. Reaching 27.5 m (90 ft) in height, it is a large striking evergreen tree
with large dark green leaves and large white fragrant flowers. Widely cultivated
around the world, over a hundred cultivars have been bred and marketed
commercially. The timber is hard and heavy, and has been used commercially to
make furniture, pallets, and veneer.

Flower and foliage of Magnolia

Contents grandiflora (Southern magnolia)
Scientific classification
1 Description Kingdom: Plantae
2 Taxonomy (unranked): Angiosperms
3 Distribution and habitat
(unranked): Magnoliids
4 Ecology
5 Cultivation and uses Order: Magnoliales
5.1 Cultivars Family: Magnoliaceae
6 External links Genus: Magnolia
7 References Subgenus: M. subg. Magnolia
7.1 Cited texts Section: M. sect. Magnolia
8 Gallery Species: M. grandiflora
Binomial name
Magnolia grandiflora
Description L.

Magnolia grandiflora is a medium to large evergreen tree which may grow

27.5 m (90 ft) tall.[1] It typically has a single stem and a pyramidal shape.[2] The
leaves are simple and broadly ovate, 12–20 cm (5–8 in) long and 6–12 cm
(2–5 in) broad,[2] with smooth margins. They are dark green, stiff and leathery,
and often scurfy underneath with yellow-brown pubescence. The large, showy,
citronella-scented flowers are white, up to 30 cm (12 in) across and fragrant, with
6–12 petals with a waxy texture, emerging from the tips of twigs on mature trees
in late spring. Flowering is followed by the rose-coloured fruit, ovoid and
7.5–10 cm (3–4 in) long and 3–5 cm (1.5-2 in) wide.[3]

Exceptionally large trees recorded include a 35 m (114 ft) high specimen from the Chickasawhay District, DeSoto
National Forest in Mississippi which measured 17 feet 8 inches in circumference at breast height, from 1961, and a 30 m
(99 ft) tall tree from Baton Rouge, Louisiana which reached 18 feet in circumference at breast height.[3]

Taxonomy
Magnolia grandiflora was one of the many species first described by Linnaeus in his Systema Naturae. Its specific
epithet is derived from the Latin words grandis "big", and flor- "flower".

Common names include bull bay, Southern magnolia, evergreen magnolia,[3] large-flower magnolia or big laurel.[4] The
timer is known simply as magnolia.[3]

Distribution and habitat

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Magnolia grandiflora is native to the southeastern United States, from coastal North Carolina south to central Florida,
and then west to eastern Texas and Arkansas. It is found on the edges of bodies of water and swamps, in association with
sweetgum (Liquidambar styraciflua), water oak (Quercus nigra), and black tupelo (Nyssa sylvatica). In more sheltered
habitats, it grows as a large tree, but can be a low shrub when found on coastal dunes.[5] It is killed by summer fires, and
is missing from habitats that undergo regular burning.[6] In Florida it is found in a number of different ecological areas
that are typically shady and have well draining soils, it is also found in hummocks, along ravines, on slopes, and wooded
floodplains.[7] Despite preferring sites with increased moisture, it does not tolerate inundation.[3] It grows on sand-hills in
maritime forests, where it is found growing with live oaks and saw palmetto.[6] In the eastern United States it has become
an escape, and has become naturalized in the tidewater area of Virginia and locally in other areas outside of its
historically natural range.[8]

Ecology
Magnolia grandiflora can produce seed by 10 years of age, although peak seed
production is achieved closer to 25 years of age. Around 50% of seed can
germinate, and is spread by birds and mammals.[3] Squirrels, opossums, quail, and
turkey are known to eat the seeds.[9]

Cultivation and uses

The plant collector Mark Catesby, the first in North America, brought Magnolia
grandiflora to Britain in 1726, where it entered cultivation and overshadowed M.
virginiana which had been collected a few years earlier. It had also come to
France, the French having collected it in the vicinity of the Mississippi River in Individual seeds
Louisiana.[10] It was glowingly described by Philip Miller in his 1731 work The
Gardeners' Dictionary.[11] One of the earliest people to cultivate it in Europe was Sir John Colliton of Exeter in Devon;
scaffolding and tubs surrounded his tree, where gardeners propagated its branches by layering, the daughter plants
initially selling for five guineas each (but later falling to half a guinea).[11]

Southern magnolia is a very popular ornamental tree throughout the southeastern

United States, grown for its attractive foliage and flowers. On the east coast of
the United States, cold-hardy cultivars have been seen planted up to and even
north of the Ohio River, where large tree specimens become increasingly rare and
eventually are only found as shrubs before disappearing altogether from the
landscape; for example, large mature trees are common in the Cincinnati, Ohio
area but begin to taper off in size and occurrence until they are generally absent
altogether in Columbus, Ohio. This "subtropical indicator" tree is seen in some
gardens as far north as southern Connecticut and southeastern New York; farther
north in New England it is extremely difficult to cultivate. Towards the northern
limit of its cultivation, it may suffer dieback from very hard freezes, but weathers
normal freezes well. On the west coast it is commonplace as far north as
Vancouver, British Columbia.

It is recommended for seashore plantings in areas that are windy but have little
salt spray.[12] The foliage will bronze, blotch, and burn in severe winters at the
northern limits of cultivation, especially when grown in full winter sun[13] but Tree planted 1807 at Jardin des
most leaves remain until they are replaced by new foliage in the spring. In plantes in Nantes
climates where the ground freezes, winter sun appears to do more damage than
the cold itself. In the northern hemisphere the south side of the tree will experience more leaf damage than the north side
of the tree. Two extremes are known, with leaves white underneath and with leaves brown underneath. The brown
varieties are claimed to be more cold-hardy than the white varieties, but this does not appear to be proven as yet. Once
established plants are drought tolerant, and the most drought tolerant of all the Magnolia species.[13]

The leaves are heavy and tend to fall year round from the interior of the crown and form a dense cover on top of the soil
surface,[13] they have been used in decorative floral arrangements.[14] The leaves have a waxy coating that makes them

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resistant to damage from salt and air pollution.[13]

In the United States, Southern magnolia along with sweetbay (Magnolia virginiana) and cucumbertree (Magnolia
acuminata), is commercially harvested. Lumber from all three species is simply called magnolia, which is used in the
construction of furniture, boxes, pallets, venetian blinds, sashes, doors and used as veneers. Southern magnolia has
yellowish-white sapwood and light to dark brown heartwood that is tinted yellow or green. The usually straight grained
wood has uniform texture with closely spaced rings. The wood is ranked moderate in heaviness, hardness and stiffness;
moderately low in shrinkage, bending and compression strength; it is ranked moderately high in shock resistance.[15] Its
use in the southeastern United States has been supplanted by the availability of harder woods.[16]

Symbolic of the American South, Magnolia grandiflora is the state tree of Mississippi,[17] and the state flower of
Mississippi and Louisiana.[5]

Cultivars

Over a hundred cultivars have been developed and named in Europe and North America. More and more plants in
nurseries are propagated by cuttings, resulting in more consistent form in the various varieties available.[18]

As newer cultivars have been found to be more cold hardy, the cultivated range has continued to spread farther north
with some being planted around Chicago. 'Bracken's Brown Beauty', 'Edith Bogue' (http://www.archiplanet.org
/wiki/House_that_Lives%2C_The#Discussion) and '24 Below' are some of the most cold hardy varieties.

Magnolia "Angustifolia", developed in France in 1825, has narrow spear-shaped leaves 20 cm (8 in) long by 11
cm (4.4 in) wide, as its name suggests.[18]

Magnolia "Exmouth" was developed in the early 18th century by John Colliton in Devon. It is notable for its
huge flowers with up to 20 tepals, and vigorous growth. Erect in habit, it is often planted against walls. The leaves
are green above and brownish underneath.[19] The flowers are very fragrant and the leaves are narrow and
leathery.[20]

Magnolia "Goliath", was developed by Caledonia Nurseries of Guernsey, and has a bushier habit and globular
flowers of up to 30 cm (12 in) diameter. Long-flowering, it has oval leaves which lack the brownish hair
underneath.[19]

Magnolia "Little Gem", a dwarf cultivar, is grown in warmer climates. Originally developed in 1952 by Steed's
Nursery in Candor, North Carolina, it is a slower growing form with a columnar shape which reaches around 4.25
m (14 ft) high and 1.2 m (4 ft) wide. Flowering heavily over an extended period in warmer climate, it bears
medium-size cup-shaped flowers, and has elliptic leaves 12.5 cm (5 in) long by 5 cm (2 in) wide.[19]

Other commonly grow cultivars include:

Magnolia "Ferruginea", has dark green leaves with rust-brown undersides.[20]

External links
Magnolia grandiflora (http://www.restoredprints.com/AUD014.htm) Magnolia Grandiflora from Audubon's Birds
of America
Magnolia grandiflora images at bioimages.vanderbilt.edu (http://www.cas.vanderbilt.edu/bioimages/species/frame
/magr4.htm)

References
1. ^ Gardiner, p. 144
2. ^ a b Zion, Robert L. (1995). Trees for architecture and landscape (http://books.google.com/books?id=aaKTWJG4-
iQC&pg=PA224&) . New York: Van Nostrand Reinhold. p. 224. ISBN 978-0-471-28524-3. http://books.google.com
/books?id=aaKTWJG4-iQC&pg=PA224&.
3. ^ a b c d e f Maisenhelder, Louis C. (1970). "Magnolia" (http://www.fpl.fs.fed.us/documnts/usda/amwood/245magno.pdf) .
American Woods FS-245. US Dept. of Agriculture. http://www.fpl.fs.fed.us/documnts/usda/amwood/245magno.pdf.

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Retrieved 2009-11-05.
4. ^ Coladonato, Milo (1991). "Magnolia grandiflora" (http://www.fs.fed.us/database/feis/plants/tree/maggra/all.html) . Fire
Effects Information System, [Online]. Rocky Mountain Research Station, Fire Sciences Laboratory (Producer).: U.S.
Department of Agriculture, Forest Service. http://www.fs.fed.us/database/feis/plants/tree/maggra/all.html. Retrieved 12
January 2010.
5. ^ a b Gardiner, p. 143
6. ^ a b Whitney, Eleanor Noss; Rudloe, Anne; Jadaszewski, Erick. Priceless Florida: Natural Ecosystems and Native Species
(http://books.google.com/books?id=NXrygt0m50oC&pg=PA36&) . Pineapple Press (FL). pp. 36. ISBN 978-1-56164-308-0.
http://books.google.com/books?id=NXrygt0m50oC&pg=PA36&.
7. ^ Nelson, Gil; Marvin, Jr Cook. The Trees of Florida: A Reference and Field Guide (Reference and Field Guides
(Paperback)) (http://books.google.com/books?id=Wzmo7cHvhZkC&pg=PA17&) . Pineapple Press (FL). pp. 17.
ISBN 978-1-56164-055-3. http://books.google.com/books?id=Wzmo7cHvhZkC&pg=PA17&.
8. ^ http://www.efloras.org/florataxon.aspx?flora_id=1&taxon_id=200008470
9. ^ Halls, L. K. 1977. Southern magnolia/Magnolia grandiflora L. In Southern fruit-producing woody plants used by wildlife. p.
196-197. USDA Forest Service, General Technical Report SO-16. Southern Forest Experiment Station, New Orleans, LA.
10. ^ Aitken, Richard (2008). Botanical Riches: Stories of Botanical Exploration. Melbourne, Victoria: Miegunyah Press: State
Library of Victoria. pp. 112. ISBN 0522855050.
11. ^ a b Gardiner, p. 18
12. ^ Bush-Brown, Louise Carter; Bush-Brown, James; Irwin, Howard S. (1996). America's garden book. New York: Macmillan
USA. pp. 537. ISBN 0-02-860995-6.
13. ^ a b c d Sternberg, Guy; Wilson, James; Wilson, Jim (2004). Native trees for North American landscapes: from the Atlantic
to the Rockies (http://books.google.com/books?id=qOq5v4fd1kcC&pg=PA268&) . Portland: Timber Press. pp. 268.
ISBN 978-0-88192-607-1. http://books.google.com/books?id=qOq5v4fd1kcC&pg=PA268&.
14. ^ Callaway, p. 13
15. ^ The Encyclopedia of Wood (http://books.google.com/books?id=mUGSaiTsBAIC&pg=PT8&#) . Skyhorse Publishing.
pp. 1–7. ISBN 978-1-60239-057-7. http://books.google.com/books?id=mUGSaiTsBAIC&pg=PT8&#.
16. ^ Callaway, p. 14
17. ^ http://www.50states.com/flower/mississippi.htm
18. ^ a b Gardiner, p. 145
19. ^ a b c Gardiner, p. 147
20. ^ a b Brickell, Christopher (1989). The American Horticultural Society encyclopedia of garden plants. New York:
Macmillan. pp. 51. ISBN 0-02-557920-7.

Cited texts

Callaway, Dorothy Johnson (1994). The world of magnolias. Portland, Oregon: Timber Press. ISBN 0881922366.
Gardiner, Jim (2000). Magnolias: A Gardener's Guide. Portland, Oregon: Timber Press. ISBN 0-88192-446-6.

Gallery

Magnolia grandiflora
(Southern magnolia) – a
Southern Magnolia Seed cluster of
large tree at A cluster of leaves
foliage and flower Magnolia grandiflora
Hemingway, South
Carolina

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Before the Opening Act Inside the Flower

Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Magnolia_grandiflora"

Categories: Magnolia | Medicinal plants | Trees of Alabama | Trees of Mississippi | Garden plants of North America |
Trees of North Carolina | Ornamental trees

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