In the southeastern United States, especially Alabama and surrounding areas, Magnolia macrophylla is sometimes called the "cowcumber magnolia," in contrast with the much smaller-leaved cucumber-tree magnolia, M. The fruit is eaten by wildlife, but because of the plant's scarceness, it does not form a significant portion of any creature's diet. The 6-to-8-inch-diameter (150 to 200 mm) flowers bloom in late spring, and are white with rose-purple blotches on the inner tepals. macrophylla, but has shorter, broader leaves, smaller flowers, and longer fruits. The Ashe magnolia is a rare shrub, exceptionally a small tree, that is found only along the bluffs and ravines adjacent to the Apalachicola River in Florida, along with several other rare plants unique to the area, such as Florida Yew and Florida torreya. In addition, this species is plagued by poor seed set (most likely from limiting factors mentioned above) and low seed viability, a trait shared by its cousin and frequent associate in the wild in Appalachia, the Fraser magnolia. Natural regeneration is quite limited due to the scarcity of mature, seed-bearing plants and the fact that this tree's population mostly consists of widely scattered individuals. This suits the plant just fine as it is tolerant of low light levels it does not need full sun to survive once established (however, it does not tolerate full shade). Distribution and habitat īigleaf magnolia is found in rich mesic woods any disturbance that lets more light reach the ground is beneficial to the establishment of bigleaf magnolia, but despite its relatively fast growth-rate when stimulated by more light, other understory and canopy trees/seedlings are usually able to outgrow and out-compete it. making themselves readily available to passing birds.Īt the Arnold Arboretum, dead bees have been observed inside Bigleaf magnolia flowers. The mature seeds, each covered with an orange aril, hang down from the cone on silk-like threads. The fruit is a cone-like cluster of achenes. This, like all Magnolias, is beetle pollinated. It is the largest temperate (non-tropical) flower in the world. Is typically about sixteen inches (41 centimeters) wide, although there have been specimens as large as 21.5 inches (55 centimeters) in width. The flower has as many as 580 stamens and The flowers are typically six or nine-petaled (two or three whorls of three petals each, the larger ones with a dime-sized purple blotch at the base). The tree's branches often bend under the weight of this heavy foliage. The leaf's width can be up to eighteen inches (45 centimeters). in addition to a six inch (15 centimeter) petiole. The largest leaf to be reported by a credible source is 3 ft 8 in (110 centimeters) in length. This species is distinguished from other magnolias by the large leaf size, 10–32 inch long and 4–35 inch broad. The bigleaf magnolia is a medium-sized understory tree 50–65 feet tall. Considered by some botanists to be a distinct species, Magnolia dealbata. Tree to 65 foot leaves 11–24 inch long, fruit 3–6 inch long with more than 70 carpels. Mexico ( Hidalgo to Oaxaca and Veracruz, in cloud forests). Mexican bigleaf magnolia, Cloudforest magnolia, or eloxochitl. Considered by some botanists to be a distinct species, Magnolia ashei. Shrub or small tree to 40 foot leaves 10–23 inch long, fruit 1.5–2.3 inch long with less than 50 carpels. Tree to 65 foot leaves 20-35 inch long, fruit 1.5–4 inch long with more than 50 carpels. Magnolia macrophylla has three subspecies some botanists treat these plants as three separate species: This species boasts the largest simple leaf and single flower of any native plant in North America.Ĭlassification M. Magnolia macrophylla, the bigleaf magnolia, is a deciduous magnolia native to the southeastern United States and eastern Mexico.
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