8.
Magnolia acuminata
(Linnaeus) Linnaeus, Syst. Nat. ed. 10. 2: 1082. 1759.
Cucumber-tree
Magnolia virginiana
Linnaeus var. (e)
acuminata
Linnaeus, Sp. Pl. 1: 536. 1753;
Kobus acuminata
(Linnaeus) Nieuwland;
Magnolia acuminata
var.
alabamensis
Ashe
; M. acuminata
var
. aurea (
Ashe) Ashe;
M. acuminata
subsp.
cordata
(Michaux) E. Murray;
M. acuminata
var.
cordata
(Michaux) Seringe;
M. acuminata
var.
ludoviciana
Sargent;
M. acuminata
var.
ozarkensis
Ashe;
M. acuminata
var.
subcordata
(Spach) Dandy;
M. cordata
Michaux;
Tulipastrum acuminatum
(Linnaeus) Small;
T.acuminatum
var.
aureum
Ashe;
T.acuminatum
var.
flavum
Small;
T.acuminatum
var.
ludovicianum
(Sargent) Ashe;
T.acuminatum
var.
ozarkense
(Ashe) Ashe;
T.americanum
Spach;
T.americanum
var.
subcordatum
Spach;
T.cordatum
(Michaux) Small
Trees
, deciduous, single-trunked, to 30 m.
Bark
dark gray, furrowed.
Pith
homogeneous.
Twigs
and foliar buds
silvery-pubescent.
Leaves
distinctly alternate,not in terminal whorl-like clusters; stipules 3.2-4.3 × 1.4-1.6 cm, abaxially pilose.
Leaf blade
broadly ovate-elliptic, oblong to oblong-obovate, rarely somewhat rotund, (5-)10-25(-40) × 4-15(-26) cm, base cuneate to truncate or broadly rounded, often somewhat oblique, apex acuminate; surfaces abaxially pale green to whitish, pilose to nearly glabrous, adaxially green, glabrous or rarely scattered pilose.
Flowers
slightly aromatic, 6-9 cm across; spathaceous bracts 2, abaxially silky-pubescent; tepals erect, strongly glaucous to greenish or sometimes yellow to orange-yellow, outermost tepals reflexed, much shorter, green; stamens (50-)60-122(-139), 5-13 mm; filaments white; pistils (35-)40-45(-60).
Follicetums
oblong-cylindric, often asymmetric, 2-7 × 0.8-2.7 cm; follicles short-beaked, glabrous.
Seeds
heart-shaped, somewhat flattened to somewhat globose, 9-10 mm, smooth, aril reddish orange. 2
n
=76.
Flowering spring. Rich woods, slopes, and ravines, often along streams; 0—1400 m; Ont.; Ala., Ark., Fla., Ga., Ill., Ind., Ky., La., Md., Miss., Mo., N.Y., N.C., Ohio, Okla., Pa., S.C., Tenn., Va., W.Va.
The vernacular name, cucumber-tree, alludes to the resemblance of the follicetum to the young fruit of cucumber. It is the only magnolia species in the flora that occurs naturally in Canada.
Studies of Magnolia acuminata have failed to reconcile the nature of variation in this widespread species. In an attempt to settle differences in variation patterns, J.W. Hardin (1954) recognized four infraspecific taxa in M. acuminata . Later (1972, 1989) Hardin abandoned his earlier views for a more conservative stance, stating that variation in M. acuminata lacked any consistent pattern or geographic correlation. This is the view taken here--no infraspecific taxa are accepted for M. acuminata at this time. Its flowers are normally greenish and glaucous or sometimes yellow to orange-yellow, less showy than those of other magnolias in the flora. In southern areas, trees with yellow to orange-yellow flowers (originally described by Michaux as M. cordata ) occur in North Carolina, Georgia, Alabama, and perhaps elsewhere, together with trees that bear normal greenish flowers. Both filiform and flagelliform trichomes occur on the leaves; cylindric trichomes also occur.
Magnolia acuminata is of value to horticulturists because no other species of the genus has yellow tepals . Magnolia acuminata contains major quantities of xanthophyll lutein-5,6-epoxide and, in smaller amounts, acarotene-5,6-epoxide. Although this carotenoid occurs randomly throughout populations of M. acuminata , often it is masked by chlorophyll and not visibly expressed. Sometimes the carotenoid pigment shows through, as in the hybrid M. acuminata × M. denudata 'Elizabeth'. In that cross the M. acuminata parent tree was a nondescript plant with greenish flowers; yet out of this hybrid came 'Elizabeth', a stunning plant with light canary yellow flowers, a result completely unexpected. A thorough field study of M. acuminata is clearly warranted, and further investigation of the carotenoid flower pigments is needed to clarify the taxonomy of this widespread tree.
The largest known tree of Magnolia acuminata , 29.6m in height with a trunk diameter of 1.26m, is recorded from a specimen cultivated in Waukon, Iowa (American Forestry Association 1994).
The Cherokee and Iroquois tribes used Magnolia acuminata , largely the bark, as an analgesic, antidiarrheal, gastrointestinal aid, anthelmintic, toothache remedy, and for various other uses (D.E. Moerman 1986).
