Trees or shrubs. Stipules adnate to or free from the petiole. Leaves simple, alternate,
entire. Flowers terminal, usually solitary, bisexual. Perianth parts 9 - 21, usually 3 -
5-merous, subequal or the outer ones small and sepaloid. Anthers dehiscing introrsely
or latrorsely; connective usually produced. Gynoecium sessile; carpels numerous or few,
free or united at base; ovules usually 2 or rarely more. Fruiting carpels few. crowded,
dehiscing along dorsal or ventral suture, sometimes woody and circumcissile, the upper
portion falling away singly or in masses, with seeds remaining attached to a silky cord.
Tropical and subtropical regions of Asia from E. Himalayas to S. China, Malesia,
S.E. North America, Mexico, West Indies and S. America; ca 120 species, 11 species in
India.
Notes.
The genus as circumscribed here includes the genera Talauma Juss. and
Manglietia Blume.
Magnolia grandiflora L. is commonly cultivated, particularly in gardens of hill
stations.
The funicle of the seeds lengthen by the uncoiling of the spiral vessels.
Literature.
DANDY, J. E. (1950) A survy of the genus Magnolia together with Manglietia and
Michelia. In: Camellias and Magnolias, Reb. Cont. 1950: 64 -
81. KENG, H. (1978) The delimitation of the
genus Magnolia (Magnoliaceae). Gard. Bull. Singapore 31(2): 127 -
131.
