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Magnolia virginiana

(Dwarf Sweet Bay Magnolia)

Interesting Facts

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Common Names

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Click on the language to view common names.

Common Names in English:

Dwarf Sweet Bay Magnolia, Laurel Magnolia, Swamp Bay, Swamp Magnolia, Swamp-Bay, Swamp-Laurel, Sweet Bay, Sweet Bay Magnolia, Sweet Magnolia, Sweet-Bay, Sweetbay, Sweetbay Magnolia

Common Names in French:

Laurier Doux

Description

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Family Magnoliaceae

Trees or shrubs , deciduous or evergreen , aromatic . Pith homogeneous or diaphragmed . Leaves alternate, simple , petiolate ; stipules early or tardily deciduous, at first surrounding stem, adnate on adaxial side of petiole (free in Magnolia grandiflora ), often ochreate, leaving persistent annular scar around node. Leaf blade pinnately veined, unlobed (or evenly 2-10-lobed in Liriodendron ), margins entire. Inflorescences terminal , solitary flowers (often paired in Magnolia ashei ), pedunculate ; spathaceous bracts 2 (Magnolia ) or 1 (Liriodendron ) . Flowers: perianth hypogynous, segments imbricate; tepals deciduous, 6-18, in 3 or more whorls of 3, ± similar or outer tepals sepaloid , inner tepals petaloid ; stamens numerous , hypogynous, free, spirally arranged ; filaments very short to 1/2 length of anthers ; anthers introrse , latrorse , or extrorse , longitudinally dehiscent ; connective with distal appendage ; pistils numerous, superior, spirally arranged on elongate receptacle (torus), stalked or sessile, free or ±concrescent, 1-locular; placentation marginal , placenta 1; ovules 1-2; style 1, short and recurved (Magnolia ) or large and winglike (Liriodendron ) ; stigma 1, terminal or terminal decurrent (Magnolia ) or recurved (Liriodendron ) . Fruits conelike syncarps consisting of aggregates of coalescent , woody follicles (follicetums, as in Magnolia ) or apocarps consisting of aggregates of indehiscent samaras (samaracetums, as in Liriodendron ) . Seeds 1-2 per pistil, arillate , endosperm oily (Magnolia ), or without aril, adherent to dry endocarp ( Liriodendron ) .

Genera ca. 6(-12), species ca. 220 (2 genera, 9 species in the flora ) : mostly in Asia, the Pacific Islands, and the Western Hemisphere.

Magnoliaceae are pollinated by beetles.

Herbarium material of Magnolia is usually incomplete and inadequate for critical study. Collections should include material of the stipules, spathaceous bracts, a full complement of stamens, and all of the perianth segments to facilitate identification of Magnolia species.[1]

Genus Magnolia

Trees or shrubs , deciduous or evergreen . Pith homogeneous or diaphragmed . Leaves distinctly alternate or sometimes crowded in terminal whorl-like clusters ; stipules early deciduous, free or adnate to and proximal on petiole . Leaf blade : base deeply cordate or auriculate or cuneate to abruptly narrowed or rounded , margins entire, apex obtuse or acute to acuminate; surfaces abaxially chalky white or green to glaucous, pubescent or glabrous . Flowers protogynous, appearing with or before leaves; tepals 9-15, petaloid , usually spreading , creamy white, rarely greenish, yellow, or orange-yellow, outermost tepals sepaloid , sometimes strongly reflexed , greenish; stamens on elongate torus, early deciduous; filaments white or purple, very short; anthers introrse or latrorse . Follicles persistent , coalescent , forming conelike aggregate, abaxially dehiscent. Seeds with red, pink, or orange oily aril, extruded from follicles and suspended by funiculi. x =19.

Species ca. 120: temperate and tropical regions , Western Hemisphere, Asia (Himalayas, China, Japan, Taiwan, Malaysia, and Indonesia) .[2]

Physical Description

Species Magnolia virginiana

Shrubs or small trees , evergreen to partly evergreen or deciduous, multitrunked to 10m, or single-trunked to 28 m. Bark dark gray, smooth . Pith diaphragmed . Twigs and foliar buds silky-pubescent, sometimes glabrous . Leaves distinctly alternate, not in terminal whorl-like clusters ; stipules 3-5.5(-6) × 0.3-0.5 cm, abaxially brownish puberulent , red-glandular. Leaf blade oblong to elliptic , ovate to obovate , 6-22 × 2.6-7 cm, somewhat leathery, base cuneate, apex obtuse to acute or rounded to somewhat acuminate; surfaces abaxially chalky white to glaucous, glabrous or densely silky-pubescent, adaxially dull green to lustrous . Flowers fragrant, 5-8 cm across; spathaceous bracts 2, outer bract abaxially silky-pubescent, inner bract nearly glabrous, red-glandular; tepals creamy white, red-glandular, outermost segments reflexed , greenish; stamens (32-) 63-90(-102), 5.5-11 mm; filaments white; pistils (9-) 19-33(-50). Follicetums ellipsoid to nearly globose , 2-5.5 × 1.5-3 cm; follicles short-beaked, glabrous. Seeds somewhat globose to lenticular , 5 mm, aril red. 2 n =38. [source]

The most widely distributed species of Magnolia in the flora , M. virginiana occurs in two growth forms : deciduous and often multitrunked northward, and typically single-trunked and evergreen in the southern range . Where these forms overlap geographically in North Carolina and adjacent areas, intergradation occurs, and the identification of these intergrades is difficult, if not impossible. It has been impossible to pinpoint their occurrence in the zone of overlap. Herbarium specimens cannot be trusted to resolve this dilemma. Both filiform and flagelliform trichomes occur on the leaves, but these are without taxonomic significance. Some investigators have treated these habital variants as geographic varieties or as subspecies , but infraspecific taxa are not recognized here. Without other defining characteristics and no clear geographic correlation , infraspecific taxa have little significance or taxonomic value in M. virginiana. A thorough field study is needed to clarify the taxonomy of this otherwise well-known plant. [source]

Magnolia virginiana is widely cultivated. It was the first magnolia known in Europe, dating from 1688 in England. A few cultivars of both the deciduous and evergreen forms are now grown in cultivation. Magnolia virginiana is a parent of several hybrids, including the first known magnolia hybrid, M .× thompsoniana (Loudon) C. de Vos (= M. virginiana × M. tripetala ), dating to 1808. Other hybrids include the so-called Freeman hybrids of M. grandiflora × M. virginiana and M. virginiana × M. hypoleuca with its cultivar 'Nimbus'. [source]

ID Features: Smooth, green bark or twigs. Silvery-white undersides of leaves.

Habit: A semi-evergreen multi-stemmed, loose and open small tree with a rounded to pyramidal or irregular outline and upright, spreading branching.

Flowers: Fragrant creamy flowers in June. • Bloom Period: April, May, June, July, August. • Flower Color: near white, white • Flower Conspicuous: Lemon scented, saucer-shaped

Seeds: Fruit: 2' long aggregate fruit. Changes from green to red when mature . Orang-red seeds are visible through slits in mature fruits.

Foliage: Semi-evergreen . • Summer foliage: Leaves are evergreen in the southeastern United States. Leaves are semi-evergreen to deciduous in the northeastern United States. (zone 5 and 6). Leaves are 5" long; alternate arrangement . Smooth , almost wary, bright green upper surface. Undersides of leaves are white and look frosted. Young twigs are green and smooth. • Fall foliage: Typically not showy. A mix of yellow, brown and green. Non-uniform color due to semi-evergreen nature.

Size/Age/Growth

Growth Rate: Moderate. • Size: to 30' tall.

Landscaping

Landscape Uses: As a specimen tree or large shrub . Useful for flower fragrance. Patio plant. Naturalistic areas. Wet soils. • Liabilities: Chlorosis on high pH soils. Subject to winter injury in zone 5. Does not always perform well in colder parts of its recommended use range . Does not bloom as heavily as other common-magnolias. • Care: Follow a regular watering schedule during the first growing season to establish a deep, extensive root system . Watering can be reduced after establishment. Feed with a general purpose fertilizer before new growth begins in spring .

Habitat

Swamps , bays , low wet woods , savannahs; chiefly in coastal plain and lower piedmont; 0-540 m. [source]

Often found in swampy locations. Hardy to zone 5.

Typically found at an altitude of 0 to 440 meters (0 to 1,444 feet).[3]

Biology

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Reproduction

Duration: Perennial

Growth

Culture: Tolerant of wet soils. Soil must be acidic. Full sun is best, but tolerant of partial shade. Avoid sites that are cold and windswept in winter.

Soil: Tolerates wet, poorly drained soil. Needs acid soil . • Minimum pH: 5.6 • Maximum pH: 7.5

Sunlight: Sun Exposure: Partial sun

Moisture: Water Requirements: Once established needs only occasional water.

Temperature: Heat Zones: High: 9 (>120 to 150 days) Low:1 (< 1 days) (map) • Cold Hardiness: 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b. (map)

Taxonomy

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Unambiguous Synonyms

  1. Magnolia australis (Sarg.) Ashe
  2. Magnolia australis var. parva (Ashe) Ashe
  3. Magnolia burchelliana Steud.
  4. Magnolia fragrans Raf.
  5. Magnolia fragrans Salisb.
  6. Magnolia glauca (L.) L.
  7. Magnolia glauca var. argentea Dc.
  8. Magnolia glauca var. latifolia Aiton
  9. Magnolia glauca var. longifolia Aiton
  10. Magnolia gordoniana Steud.
  11. Magnolia latifolia Aiton Ex Dippel
  12. Magnolia virginiana australis (Sarg.) E. Murray
  13. Magnolia virginiana var. australis Sarg.
  14. Magnolia virginiana var. glauca L.
  15. Magnolia virginiana var. longifolia Aiton
  16. Magnolia virginiana var. parva Ashe
  17. Magnolia virginiana var. pumila Nutt.

Notes

Publishing author : Hort. ex Steud. Publication : Nomencl. Bot., ed. 2 (Steudel) 2: 90 1841 Name Status: Accepted Name .

Publishing author: Salisb. Publication: Prod. 379 Publishing author: Ashe Publication: Bull . Torrey Bot. Club 55: 464 1928 Publishing author: L. Publication: Sp. Pl. 535 1753 Publishing author: DC. Publication: Syst. Nat. (Candolle) 1: 452 1817 Basionym author: (Sarg.)

Basionym: Magnoliaceae Magnolia virginiana L. var. australis

Publishing author: Aiton Publication: Hortus Kew. (W. Aiton) 2: 251 1789 Publishing author: Hort. ex Steud. Publication: Nomencl. Bot., ed. 2 (Steudel) 2: 89 1841 Basionym author: (Sarg.)

Name Status: Accepted Name.

An accepted name in the RHS Horticultural Database.

Place of publication: Sp. pl. 1:535. 1753

Name verified on 26-Jul-1995 by ARS Systematic Botanists. Last updated: 19-Apr-2007

Similar Species

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Members of the genus Magnolia

ZipcodeZoo has pages for 1113 species, subspecies, varieties, forms, and cultivars in this genus. Here are just 100 of them:

M. acuminata (Cucumbertree Magnolia) · M. acuminata 'Butterflies' (Butterflies Magnolia) · M. acuminata cordata · M. acuminata 'Ellen' · M. acuminata 'Golden Glow' · M. acuminata 'Gold Crown' · M. acuminata 'Gold Star' · M. acuminata 'Kinju' · M. acuminata 'Koban Dori' (Cucumber Magnolia) · M. acuminata large yellow · M. acuminata 'Miss Honeybee' · M. acuminata ozarkensis · M. acuminata (L.) L. var. subcordata (Spach) Dandy (Yellow Cucumbertree) · M. acuminata subcordata 'Golden Gift' · M. acuminata 'Sunray' · M. acuminata 'Ultimate Yellow' · M. acuminata var. acuminata · M. acuminata var. candolii · M. acuminata var. subcordata 'Ellen' · M. acuminata var. subcordata 'Miss Honeybee' · M. acuminata (L.) L. 'Variegata' · M. acuminata var. subcordata 'Skyland's Best' · M. acuminata × kobus 'Norman Gould' · M. acuminata (L.) L. 'Yellow Bird' (Yellow Bird Cucumbertree Magnolia) · M. 'Advance' · M. alba · M. 'Albatross' · M. albosericea · M. 'Alixeed' · M. allenii · M. alternans · M. amabilis · M. amazonica · M. 'Ambrosia' · M. amoena · M. amoena 'Multiogeca' · M. amplifolia · M. 'Andre Harvey' · M. angustioblonga · M. 'Anilou' · M. annamensis · M. 'Anne Rosse' · M. 'Ann' (Ann Magnolia) · M. anonaefolia · M. 'Anticipation' (Anticipation Magnolia) · M. 'Apollo' · M. arcabucoana · M. argyrothricha · M. argyrotricha · M. aromatica · M. ashei (Ashe´s Magnolia) · M. ashtonii · M. 'Asian Artistry' (Deciduous Magnolia) · M. 'Athene' (Magnolia) · M. 'Atlas' · M. baillonii · M. balansae · M. 'Banana Split' · M. banghamii · M. 'Betty' (Betty Magnolia) · M. 'Betty Jessel' · M. 'Big Dude' (Deciduous Magnolia) · M. bintuluensis · M. biondii (Chinese Willow-Leaf Magnolia) · M. biondii f. purpurascens · M. biondii var. axilliflora · M. biondii var. multialabastra · M. biondii var. purpura · M. 'Black Beauty' · M. 'Black Tulip' · M. blaoensis · M. blumei · M. blumei var. blumei · M. blumei var. sumatrana · M. 'Blushing Belle' · M. boliviana · M. borneensis · M. braianensis · M. brooklynensis · M. brozzonii · M. burseracea · M. 'Butterflies' · M. cacuminicola bissei · M. cacuminoides · M. 'Caerhays Belle' (Deciduous Magnolia) · M. 'Caerhays New Purple' · M. 'Caerhays Surprise' · M. californica · M. calimaensis · M. calophylla · M. calophylloides · M. campbelli · M. campbellii (Pink Tulip Tree) · M. campbellii Alba Group · M. campbellii 'Ambrose Congreve' · M. campbellii 'Ann Jenkins' · M. campbellii 'Betty Jessel' · M. campbellii Hook.f. & Thomson ssp. campbellii forma alba Hort. · M. campbellii Hook.f. & Thomson ssp. campbellii 'Darjeeling' · M. campbellii Hook.f. & Thomson ssp. campbellii 'Ethel Hillier'

More Info

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Further Reading

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Notes

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Contributors

Data Sources

Accessed through GBIF Data Portal November 22, 2007:

Identifiers

Footnotes

  1. Frederick G. Meyer "Magnoliaceae". in Flora of North America Vol. 3. Oxford University Press. Online at EFloras.org. [back]
  2. Christopher H. Haufler, Michael D. Windham, Frank A. Lang, S. A. Whitmore "Magnolia". in Flora of North America Vol. 3. Oxford University Press. Online at EFloras.org. [back]
  3. Mean = 73.360 meters (240.682 feet), Standard Deviation = 79.120 based on 475 observations. Altitude information for each observation from British Oceanographic Data Centre. [back]
Last Revised: 7/1/2009