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| The magnolia family includes 10 genera and about 80 species of plants that are widely distributed in temperate and subtropical areas of North America and Asia. The trees of this family that grow in the southeastern United States have lush, succulent foliage and attractive flowers. 3 trees of this family are native to Florida. |
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| Magnolia grandiflora
southern magnolia, evergreen magnolia |
 Habit
The southern magnolia is a moderately large tree, 60-90 feet in height,
2-3 feet in diameter. It has a straight, clear bole which opens into
a narrow, pyramidal crown. Grown in the open, it has a broad, conical
crown with attractive symmetry. This tree is known for its large,
white, fragrant flowers and succulent evergreen foliage.
Leaves are simple, alternate, and persistent. The leaves are 5-8
inches long, 2-3 inches wide, oval-shaped, and taper into a bluntly pointed
apex. Leaf bases are wedge-shaped. Leaf margins are entire.
Leaf surfaces are bright green and lustrous above, with rusty red, woolly
hairs below. Leaf petioles are short, stout, and covered with rusty
red hairs. The leaf blades are leathery.
The twigs are moderately stout, and often covered with rusty red, woolly
hairs. The pith is often indistinctly diaphragmed.
The bark light brown to gray-brown and irregularly scaly.
The southern magnolia grows on rich bottomlands or on gentle, protected
slopes in mixture with other hardwood species. It is found on the
coastal plain from North Carolina to Florida; west through Lousiana and
Arkansas to eastern Texas.
This is one of the south's most prized evergreens. It is used
ornamentally throughout the region. It is cut in modest quantities
for lumber.
 Query
the USDA Plant Database |
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| Magnolia virginiana
sweetbay |
| Habit
The sweetbay is a small tree, 20-30 feet in height, 1-2 feet in diameter.
Its branches are nearly erect or spreading. In many localities it
is merely a shrub. It is also known for its attractive flowers and
succulent evergreen foliage.
Leaves are simple, alternate, and persistent. In the northern
part of its range, the leaves fall in November. The leaves are 4-6
inches long, 1-3 inches wide, elliptical-shaped, and taper into a bluntly
pointed or rounded apex. Leaf bases are wedge-shaped. Leaf
margins are entire or somewhat wavy. Leaf surfaces are bright green
and lustrous above, with a whitish, waxy layer below. Leaf petioles
are short and stout. The leaf blades are somewhat leathery.
The twigs are slender, bright green, pubescent, becoming reddish-brown and smooth after the first winter. The pith is diaphragmed. Bark The bark is gray-brown and superficially scaly on large trunks.
The sweetbay grows in swamps, swales, and moist, low ground, occassionally
in thickets. It is found on the coastal plain from Massachusetts
to Florida;
This tree is sometimes used as an ornamental.
Query
the USDA Plant Database |
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| Liriodendron tulipifera yellow poplar, tuliptree, tulip-poplar |
 Habit
Yellow-poplar is one of the largest trees
of the eastern forest trees, often reaching 100 to 200 feet in height,
4-6 feet in diameter and developing a long, clear bole; topped by a broad,
spreading, oblong crown. Its root system is deep and widespread.
Leaves are simple, alternate, deciduous, and shaped like a tulip, hence
one of its common names. The leaves are 4-6 inches long and 2-3 inches
wide. Leaf margins are entire. Leaf surfaces are dark, lustrous
green above, paler below. Leaf petioles are slender, 4-6 inches
long. The twigs are slender, reddish-brown, sometimes purplish, with many small specks (lenticels). The pith is diaphragmed. Bark The bark is dark green on young stems, becoming gray with small, white
patches, later streaked with narrrow lines; with fine, deep furrows.
The tulip-poplar grows on moist, well-drained, loose-textured soils on
flats and slopes. It is found from Massachusetts, west to Michigan,
south to northern Florida and Louisiana. Aside from being a beautiful forest tree and ornamental, it is among
the most important of southern hardwoods for the construction of several
products. Its porosity, lightness, flexibility and strength makes it good
for furniture, barrel bungs, aircraft, paneling and wooden novelties.
Query
the USDA Plant Database
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