Trees of the Northern United States Part 11

=CLa.s.s I. ANGIOSPeRMae.=

Plants with a pistil consisting of a closed ovary, which contains the ovules and forms the fruit.

ORDER =I. MAGNOLIACEae.= (MAGNOLIA FAMILY.)

Trees or shrubs, mainly of tropical regions, including, in our section, the three following genera:

GENUS =1. MAGNLIA.=

Trees and tall shrubs with alternate, thick, smooth, entire leaves with deciduous stipules which form the bud-scales, and are attached entirely around the stem, leaving a ridge, as in Liriodendron.

Flowers very large (3 to 10 in. in diameter), usually white, solitary.

Fruit a large cone from which the seeds, drupe-like, usually red, hang out on long threads during the autumn.

* Blooming with or before the opening of the leaves. (=A.=)

=A.= Flowers entirely white 9, 10.

=A.= Flowers dark purple 11.

=A.= Flowers mixed purple and white. A large number of hybrids from China and j.a.pan.

* Blooming after the leaves expand. (=B.=)

=B.= Leaves evergreen, more than 8 in. long 1.

=B.= Leaves evergreen, not 6 in. long 2.

=B.= Leaves deciduous. (=C.=)

=C.= Leaves decidedly auriculate or cordate at the base. (=D.=)

=D.= Leaves very large (1 to 3 ft. long) 5.

=D.= Leaves smaller and much cl.u.s.tered at the tips of the flowering branches 6.

=C.= Leaves not conspicuously cordate at base. (=E.=)

=E.= Leaves cl.u.s.tered at the tips of the flowering branches 7.

=E.= Leaves scattered along the branches. (=F.=)

=F.= Base of leaf abrupt 3, 4.

=F.= Base of leaf tapering. (=G.=)

=G.= Leaves quite large, about 1 ft. long; a very erect growing tree 8.

=G.= Leaves smaller, medium thick, glossy above 2.

medium thin (5 to 10 in. long) 3.

[Ill.u.s.tration: M. grandiflra.]

1. =Magnlia grandiflra=, L. (LARGE-FLOWERED MAGNOLIA. SOUTHERN EVERGREEN MAGNOLIA.) Leaves evergreen, thick, oval-oblong; upper surface glossy, under surface somewhat rusty. Flowers large, 6 to 10 in. wide, white, fragrant. In spring. Fruit oval, 3 to 4 in. long, ripe in October. Seeds scarlet. Splendid evergreen tree (50 to 80 ft.) in the Southern States; half hardy, and reduced to a shrub (10 to 20 ft.) when cultivated in the Middle States.

[Ill.u.s.tration: M. glauca.]

2. =Magnlia glauca=, L. (SWEET-BAY. SWAMP-MAGNOLIA.) Leaves quite thick, oblong-oval, obtuse, smooth and glossy above, white or rusty p.u.b.escent beneath; evergreen in the Southern States. Leaf-buds silky.

Flowers globular, white, and very fragrant. June to August. Fruit about 1 in. long, ripe in autumn. Shrub, 4 to 20 ft. high, in the swamps of the Atlantic States from Ma.s.sachusetts southward. Slender tree, 15 to 30 ft. high, when cultivated in good damp soil.

[Ill.u.s.tration: M. ac.u.minata.]

3. =Magnlia ac.u.minata=, L. (CUc.u.mBER-TREE.) Leaves thin, green above, paler beneath, oblong, usually pointed at both ends, 5 to 10 in. long.

Leaf-buds silky. Flowers pale yellowish-green, 3 in. wide, late in spring. Fruit irregular-oblong (2 to 3 in. long), rose-colored when ripe, with a few hard, bony, black seeds, coated with red pulp, ripe in autumn. Large (50 to 90 ft.) n.o.ble forest tree, wild in western New York and southward. Wood rather soft, yellowish-white, quite durable, and extensively used for pump logs. Occasionally cultivated; fine for avenues.

[Ill.u.s.tration: M. cordata.]

4. =Magnlia cordata=, Michx. (YELLOW CUc.u.mBER-TREE.) Leaves broadly ovate or oval, rarely cordate at base, smooth above, white-downy beneath, 4 to 6 in. long. Flowers lemon-yellow slightly streaked with red. June. Fruit nearly 3 in. long, red when ripe in autumn. A rather small, broad-headed tree (20 to 50 ft.), wild in the Southern States, but hardy as far north as Boston; not often cultivated. Probably an upland variety of the preceding.

[Ill.u.s.tration: M. macrophlla.]

5. =Magnlia macrophlla=, Michx. (GREAT-LEAVED MAGNOLIA.) Leaves very large, sometimes 3 ft. long, crowded at the summit of the branches, obovate-oblong, cordate at the narrowed base, glaucous-white beneath, green above; twigs whitish p.u.b.escent. Flowers very large (12 in. broad), white with a purple spot near the base; fragrant. Fruit cylindrical, 4 in. long, deep rose-colored when ripe in autumn. A medium-sized (30 to 40 ft.), spreading tree; wild from Kentucky south, hardy and cultivated as far north as New York City.

[Ill.u.s.tration: M. Fraseri.]

6. =Magnlia Fraseri=, Walt. (EAR-LEAVED UMBRELLA-TREE.) Leaves crowded at the ends of the flowering branches, obovate or spatulate, auriculate at base, smooth (1 ft. long). Leaf-buds smooth. Flowers (6 in. wide) white, slightly scented. April to May. Fruit 3 to 4 in. long, rose-colored, ripe in autumn. Medium-sized, rather slender tree (30 to 50 ft.), with soft yellowish-white wood. Virginia and southward. Hardy and extensively cultivated as far north as New York City.

[Ill.u.s.tration: M. umbrella.]

7. =Magnlia umbrella=, Lam. (UMBRELLA TREE.) Leaves cl.u.s.tered at the ends of the branches, obovate-lanceolate, pointed at both ends, 1 to 2 ft. long; downy beneath when young, but soon becoming smooth. Flowers white, 6 to 8 in. broad. May. Fruit oblong, 4 to 6 in. long, rather rose-colored when ripe in autumn. A small, rather straggling tree, 20 to 40 ft. high; common in the Southern States, and wild as far north as New York State; cultivated throughout.

[Ill.u.s.tration: M. hypoleuca.]

8. =Magnlia hypoleuca=, S. & Z. (j.a.pAN MAGNOLIA.) Leaves large (1 ft.

long), somewhat purple-tinted above, white and glaucous beneath. Midrib and leafstalk often red. Flowers cream-white, fragrant, appearing after the leaves in June. Twigs stout and polished. A medium-sized, very erectly growing tree; from j.a.pan.

[Ill.u.s.tration: M. conspicua.]

9. =Magnlia conspicua,= Salisb. (YULAN OR CHINESE WHITE MAGNOLIA.) Leaves deciduous, obovate, abruptly ac.u.minate, p.u.b.escent when young.

Flowers large (4 in.), cream-white, very fragrant, appearing very early (May), before any of the leaves. Fruit rarely formed, with few (1 to 3, rarely more) seeds to a cone. Bark dark brown on the young branches; terminal winter buds over in. long. Small tree (10 to 30 ft.) with spreading habit and stout branches; very extensively cultivated for its abundant early bloom; from China.

[Ill.u.s.tration: M. Kbus.]

10. =Magnlia Kbus.= (THURBER'S j.a.pAN MAGNOLIA.) Leaves similar to the preceding, but smaller. Flowers also similar, but pure white. Fruit abundantly formed, with several (2 to 12) seeds to the cone. Bark green on the young growth; terminal winter-buds under in. long. Small tree (15 to 40 ft.) with erect habit and slender branches. A beautiful tree of recent introduction from j.a.pan.