Magnolia tripetala

Umbrella magnolia
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
(unranked): Angiosperms
(unranked): Magnoliids
Order: Magnoliales
Family: Magnoliaceae
Genus: Magnolia
Species: M. tripetala
Binomial name
Magnolia tripetala
(L.) L.[1]
Generalized natural range of Magnolia tripetala
Synonyms[1][2][3]

Magnolia tripetala, commonly called umbrella magnolia or simply umbrella-tree, is a deciduous tree native to the eastern United States in the Appalachian Mountains, the Ozarks, and the Ouachita Mountains. The name "umbrella tree" derives from the fact that the large leafs are clustered at the tips of the branches forming an umbrella-shaped structure.

Description

Umbrella magnolias have large shiny leaves 30–50 cm long, spreading from stout stems. In a natural setting the umbrella magnolia can grow 15 m tall. The flowers are large, appear in the spring, malodorous,[4] 15–25 cm diameter, with six to nine creamy-white tepals and a large red style, which later develops into a red fruit (an aril) 10 cm long, containing several red seeds. These trees are attractive and easy to grow. The leaves turn yellow in the autumn. The leaves are clustered at the tip of the stem with very short internodes. The tree has reddish cone-shaped fruit, is shade tolerant, has shallow spreading roots, and is pollinated by beetles.

Notable trees

The largest known Magnolia tripetala is 15.2m in height with a trunk diameter of 87 cm from Bucks County, Pennsylvania.[4]

References

  1. 1 2  Magnolia tripetala was published in Systema Naturae Editio Decima 2: 1082. 1759. The binomial was derived from its basionym, Magnolia virginiana var. tripetala "Name - Magnolia tripetala (L.) L.". Tropicos. Saint Louis, Missouri: Missouri Botanical Garden. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  2. "Magnolia tripetala (L.) L.". The Plant List; Version 1. (published on the internet). 2010. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  3.  Magnolia virginiana var. tripetala, the basionym to M. tripetala was originally described and published in Species Plantarum 1: 536. 1753. "Name - Magnolia virginiana var. tripetala L.". Tropicos. Saint Louis, Missouri: Missouri Botanical Garden. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  4. 1 2 "Magnolia tripetala". Flora of North America. Retrieved 8 November 2015.
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