Family Magnoliaceae – Magnolias


Magnoliaceae – Magnolia Family
Magnolia Index | Tree Encyclopedia

Live specimens photographed at the Morton Arboretum at Lisle, Illinois.
Leonard Messel Magnolia - Magnolia x loebneri 'Leonard Messel'
Leonard Messel Magnolia
Rohrbach Star Magnolia - Magnolia stellata 'Rohrbach'
Rohrbach Star Magnolia
Houpu Magnolia
Houpu Magnolia
Proctor's Magnolia - Magnolia x proctoriana
Proctor's Magnolia
The earliest flowering plants date back about 130 million years. According to Cronquist Evolution and Classification of Flowering Plants, the most primitive of all living angiosperms belong to the subclass Magnoliidae. This subclass contains several primitive plant families, including the water-lily family (Nymphaeaceae), buttercup family (Ranunculaceae) and Magnoliaceae.

Plants in the magnolia family have the following characteristics: Large flowers with numerous tepals. Numerous spirally arranged stamens at the base of a conelike receptacle bearing numerous spirally arranged carpels. At maturity the carpels develop into a woody, conelike aggregate of seed-bearing follicles. Each seed has a fleshy red outer layer (aril) and hangs from its follicle by a threadlike stalk. Other primitive floral characteristics are radial symmetry or actinomorphic (floral parts similar in size & shape), perfect (with functional androecium and gynoecium), complete (with all 4 floral parts: calyx, corolla, androecium & gynoecium), and floral axis (receptacle) elongated. The latter characteristic is clearly visible in the magnolia blossom. With all the woody, spirally arranged carpels (follicles), this axis truly resembles a conelike structure.

Tulip-Tree
Tulip-Tree
Kobus Magnolia
Kobus Magnolia
Umbrella Magnolia
Umbrella Magnolia
Whitebark Magnolia
Whitebark Magnolia
Several species in the Magnolioideae are grown for their dried flower buds, known as xinyi, which are used medicinally. In addition, HOUPOEA officinalis (Magnolia officinalis) is extensively grown for its medicinal bark. All species in the family are ornamental, and many are grown in public and private gardens throughout much of China and in other parts of the world.

Green Star Magnolia

Merrill's Loebner Magnolia
 Cucumbertree
Cucumbertree
Yulan Magnolia
Yulan Magnolia

Saucer Magnolia
Lenne Saucer Magnolia
Lenne Saucer Magnolia
Wada's Memory Magnolia - Magnolia kobus 'Wada's Memory'
Wada's Memory Magnolia
Anise Magnolia - Magnolia salicifolia
Anise Magnolia

Ivory Chalice Magnolia

Elizabeth Magnolia

Kobushi Magnolia

Lilliputian Saucer Magnolia
References:
1. USDA http://na.fs.fed.us Maurice E. Demeritt, Jr. Poplar Hybrids
2. NATIONAL AUDUBON SOCIETY, National Audubon Society Field Guide to North American Trees
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Magnoliaceae – Magnolia Family
The earliest flowering plants date back about 130 million years. According to Cronquist Evolution and Classification of Flowering Plants, the most primitive of all living angiosperms belong to the subclass Magnoliidae. This subclass contains several primitive plant families, including the water-lilies (Nymphaeaceae), and buttercups  (Ranunculaceae). Tree Encyclopedia | Tree Index | Magnolia Main