Chinese evergreen magnolia
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Magnoliids
Order: Magnoliales
Family: Magnoliaceae
Genus: Magnolia
Subgenus: Magnolia subg. Magnolia
Section: Magnolia sect. Gwillimia
Subsection: Magnolia subsect. Gwillimia
Species:
M. delavayi
Binomial name
Magnolia delavayi
Synonyms
  • Lirianthe delavayi (Franch.) N.H.Xia & C.Y.Wu
  • Magnolia carpunii Romanov & A.V.Bobrov

Magnolia delavayi is a species of flowering plant in the genus Magnolia. It is known by the common names of Chinese evergreen magnolia or Delavay's magnolia. It was named after Father Delavay, French Catholic missionary in China, who collected it.

Description

Magnolia delavayi's flower

Magnolia delavayi is a small evergreen tree 8–15 metres (26–49 ft) in height with gray to grayish-black bark. The leaves are ovate to ovate-oblong, 10–20 cm (rarely to 32 cm) long and 5–10 cm (rarely to 20 cm) broad, tough, leathery, with a 5–7 cm petiole.[1]

The flowers are fragrant, cup-shaped, 15–25 cm broad, with nine thick, creamy white to pink tepals; stamens ca. 210 and ovoid gynoecium with ca. 100 carpels.[1]

Distribution and habitat

Magnolia delavayi is native to southern China, occurring in Guizhou, Sichuan and Yunnan at 1,500-2,800 m of elevation.[1]

Ecology

In its native habitat, flowering occurs from April to June. It grows on wet slopes on limestone areas.[1]

Cultivation

Magnolia delavayi is grown as an ornamental tree for its evergreen foliage as well as flowers. It is uncommon though increasing in cultivation elsewhere, such as in California. A recently selected red-flowered form is becoming popular in cultivation.

Magnolia delavayi is the city tree of Chongqing.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 "Lirianthe delavayi in Flora of China @ efloras.org". www.efloras.org. Retrieved 2017-07-31.

Further reading

  • Hunt, D. (ed). (1998). Magnolias and their allies. International Dendrology Society and Magnolia Society. ISBN 0-9517234-8-0
  • Rivers, M.C. & Wheeler, L. 2014. Magnolia delavayi. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2014. Downloaded on 8 October 2015.
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Magnolia delavayi.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.