Derivations. The Chinese name, Yu lan, signifies the Lily-tree, from the resemblance of the flowers of this species to the

lily.

Engravings. London Botanical Magazine, pl. 1621; Loudon, Arboretum Britannicum, figure 34, vol. i., and pl. 12, vol. v.; and the figures below.

Specific Characters. Deciduous. Leaves obovate, abruptly acuminated, younger ones pubescent, expanding after the flowers. Flowers erect, 6-9-petaled. Styles erect.-Don, Miller's Dict.

Description.

HE Magnolia conspicua, as
its name indicates, is a
beautiful and showy tree,
and distinguishable from

all others of the genus by the expanding of the flow-
ers before any of the leaves. A full-grown tree, in its
native country, is said to attain a height of forty or
fifty feet, and it has arrived at nearly the same eleva-
tion in Europe and America. It assumes a regular,
conical shape, with numerous branches and twigs,
which generally have a vertical, rather than a hori-
zontal direction; so that a large tree of this species,
would probably be more fastigiate than any of its con-
geners. This tree, as well as those native of Asia
generally, differs from the American species in having
two opposite spathe-like bracteas enclosing the flow-
er-buds, with ovaries somewhat distant, and in having

anthers bursting inwards. In young trees, the leaves are from six to eight inches in length, and from three to four inches broad. The flowers, which put forth in March, April or May, are of a milky whiteness, from six to eight inches in diameter, and emit a powerful odour. The fruit, which is of a deep-red colour, is of an irregular form, three or four inches in length, and often assumes fantastic shapes. It contains from one to four seeds, which usually mature, near New York, early in October. It is observed that at least one half of these seeds, when sown, prove abortive.

Varieties. This species has ripened seeds in various parts of Europe, and in the United States; and as it fertilizes readily with the Magnolia purpurea and gracilis, several varieties have already been produced, and many more may be expected. The two following are particularly worthy of cultivation :

1. M. c. SOULANGEANA, Loudon. Soulange's Conspicuous-flowered Magnolia.

A notice of this variety will be found under the head of history. The chief difference between this tree and the species, consists in its leaves being larger and more pointed, its flowers marked with purple within, and its fruit larger and containing more seeds.

2. M. C. ALEXANDRINA, Loudon. The Empress Alexandrina's Conspicuousflowered Magnolia. This variety so closely resembles the preceding, that it cannot be distinguished, except in flowering somewhat earlier.

Geography and History. The Magnolia conspicua is said to be indigenous to the southern provinces of China; and to be extensively cultivated there in the gardens of the emperor, and in those of all eminent persons, who can afford to procure it. It began to be cultivated in that country in the year 627, from which time it has always held the very first rank, as an ornamental tree, in their gardens, and is regarded by the Chinese poets as the symbol of candour and beauty. It is not only planted in the open grounds, and allowed to attain its full size, but dwarfs are kept in pots and boxes, and forced throughout the year, so as to keep up a perpetual supply of bloom in the apartments of the imperial palace. So highly is this tree valued, that a plant in flower, presented to the emperor, is thought a handsome present. In very severe winters, the trunks of the trees in the open air are sometimes wrapped round with straw ropes; but it never requires any other protection, even in the climate of Pekin.

The tree was first introduced into England by Sir Joseph Banks, in 1789; but it was many years before it attracted much attention, being considered merely as a green-house, or conservatory plant. Within the last twenty years, it has been discovered to be nearly as hardy as the American magnolias, and is now most extensively cultivated in the nurseries of Britain, continental Europe, and the United States. It flowers freely every year, as a standard in the neighbourhood of London, New York, and Philadelphia, when the wood has been properly ripened during the preceding summer; and at White Knights, in England; at Fromont, and various other places in France; and at Monza, in Italy, and Brooklyn, in New York, it has ripened seeds from which young plants have been raised. At Fromont, near Paris, in front of the chateau of M. Soulange-Bodin, stands the largest plant of the Magnolia conspicua in Europe. It measures over forty feet in height, and twenty-four inches in circumference, two feet from the ground; and the diameter of the space covered by the branches is more than twenty-five feet. It flowers magnificently every year, at the end of March and beginning of April, and the perfume of its blossoms is perceived for some distance around. It was from the seeds of this tree that sprang the far-famed variety, Magnolia conspicua soulangeana, the leaves, wood, and general habits of which, are allied to those of the parent tree; but the flowers resemble in form those of the Magnolia purpurea, or of the Magnolia purpurea gracilis, and the petals are slightly tinged with purple. This variety was accidentally produced by fecundating the flowers of the Magnolia conspicua with the pollen of those of the Magnolia purpurea. The original plant of the Magnolia conspicua soulangeana, at Fromont, is more than twenty feet in height, and though it flowered several years before, it did not ripen seeds till 1834. The seeds have been sown, and some new and interesting varieties produced from them.

The largest Magnolia conspicua in England is at Eastwell Park, in Kent, which is reputed to be more than forty feet in height. An original imported plant, trained against a wall at Wormleybury, in England, measured twentyseven feet in height, covered a space laterally of twenty-four feet, and had on it, in April, 1835, five thousand flowers!

In the garden of Mr. William Davison, in Brooklyn, New York, there is a Magnolia conspicua, ten years planted, twenty-four feet in height, with a head eighteen feet in diameter, which, in April, 1844, contained six thousand flowers!

In the same garden there is a Magnolia conspicua soulangeana ten years planted, twenty feet in height, with a head fourteen feet in diameter, which, in May, 1844, produced eight hundred flowers. Both of these trees ripened their seeds early in October of the same year.

Soil and Situation. A rich, sandy loam seems to suit this species best; but it will grow in any deep, free soil, properly drained, and moderately enriched.

The situation, when it is to be treated as a standard, ought to be sufficiently open to admit of ripening the wood in autumn, and yet not so warm as to urge forward the flower-buds prematurely in spring, as they are very liable to be injured by frost, from which they should be protected by some kind of covering. The tree shows itself in its greatest beauty against a wall, where it can be protected more conveniently by a projecting coping, or otherwise. In warm situations, sloping to the south or south-east, it has the finest effect planted in front of a bank of evergreens; and, indeed, wherever it is planted, evergreens should be growing near it, so as to form a back ground, on account of the flowers expanding before the unfolding of the leaves.

Propagation and Culture. The Magnolia conspicua and all its varieties arc propagated by layers, or by inarching on the Magnolia purpurea, or acuminata. When grafted on the former, the tree is comparatively small, by which it is rendered very convenient for use as a shrub, or for growing in pots; but when it is intended to form a tree, it should either be grafted on the Magnolia acuminata, or raised from layers or seeds. It generally requires two years before the plant can be separated from the parent stock. The young shoots are from twelve to eighteen inches in length, and the tree, in ten years, will attain a height of ten or fifteen feet, flowering the second or third year after grafting.

Properties and Uses. Besides the value of the Magnolia conspicua as an ornamental plant or tree, the Chinese pickle the flower-buds, after having removed their calyxes, and use them for flavouring rice. Medicinally, the seeds are taken in powder, in colds, and inflammations of the chest. It is also regarded as stomachic; and water, in which it has been steeped, is used for bathing the eyes when inflamed, and for clearing them of gum.

Derivations. The French names imply Two-coloured Magnolia, in allusion to the colour of the flowers. The German name signifies Red Beaver-tree.

Engravings. London Botanical Magazine, pl. 390; and Loudon, Arboretum Britannicum, i., figure 36.

Specific Characters. Deciduous. Leaves obovate, acute, reticulately veined; almost smooth. Flowers erect, of 3 sepals, and 6 obovate petals. Styles very short.-Don, Miller's Dict.

HE Magnolia purpurea is a shrub, from six to twenty feet high; native of Japan, and introduced into England in 1790; propagated by seeds and layers in the gardens of China, Europe, and America; grows in open situations, in sandy peat, with loam, or in sand and clay, well-drained, with manure. Leaves large, of a very dark-green; flowers large, more or less purple without, and always white within; put forth in March, April or May, but do not fully expand till a day or two before they drop off. The bark, when bruised, has an aromatic odour.

Varieties. Although plants of this species may exhibit slight shades of difference, there cannot be truly considered but one or two distinct varieties, the M. . p. gracilis, and the M. p. obovata-pumila, Casoretti. The chief difference between the former and the species, consists in being less hardy, rather more fastigiate in its form; leaves of a paler green, and somewhat narrower in shape; flowers longer and more slender, the points of the petals slightly turned back, and exteriorly of a dark-purple.

Genus LIRIODENDRON, Linn.

Magnoliaceæ.
Syst. Nat.

Polyandria Polygynia.
Syst. Lin.

Derivation. The name of this genus is derived from the Greek leirion, a lily, and dendron, a tree; from the resemblance of its flowers to the lily, but more nearly to the tulip.

Generic Characters. Carpels 1-2-seeded, disposed in wing at the apex. Calyx of 3 deciduous sepals. flower.-Don, Miller's Dict.

spikes, indehiscent, deciduous, drawn out into a Corolla of 6 petals, conniving into a bell-shaped

IRIODENDRON is a genus comprising but one species, a tree of the first rank, native of North America, and extensively cultivated for ornament, in Europe, and America.

Among the Magnoliacea, there are probably other trees, adapted to the climate of the United States, that are worthy of cultivation, among which, are the Magnolia insignis, of Dr. Wallich, growing on the mountains of Nepal; also, the Michelia lanuginosa, excelsa, kisopa, and doltsopa, all of which are indigenous to the elevated regions of the Himalayas. The Michelia doltsopa is one of the finest trees of Nepal, yielding a fragrant wood, much used in that country in civil architecture. The Michelia excelsa, according to Dr. Wallich, produces a valuable timber, of a fine texture, at first greenish, but soon changing to a fine yellow.