Species- Magnolia fraseri Walt.

Author: Amy Morrison

Common Names: Fraser's Magnolia, Ear-Leaved Manolia, Mountain Magnolia (Callaway, 1994)

Higher Taxa:
Class-Magnoliopsida
Order-Magnolialas
Family-Magnoliaceae
Tribe-Magnolieae
Genus-Magnolia
(Callaway,1994) & (Encyclopedia Britannica Macropedia, 1985)

Identification: The species was "...described by Walter in 1788 and named by him in honor of his friend and co-worker John Fraser" (Callaway,1994). Callaway describes Magnolia fraseri as follows, "...coarse-textured, openly branching tree 9-18m in height, often multi-stemmed. It has smooth, dark brown to gray bark and glabrous, red-brown twigs. The terminal buds are 2.5-5cm long and 1-2cm wide, glabrous, and purple. The leaves are obovate to rhombic (kite-shaped), 15-30cm long, and 7.6-17.8cm wide. They are thin, medium green and glabrous above, pale green beneath, with and obtuse to acute apex and auriculate base. Young, vigorous plants may produce leaves almost twice as large as this, and leaves may have a reddish purple tint. The petioles are 5-10cm long, slender and glabrous. The fragrant flowers are vase-shaped, becoming saucer-shaped as they open. They are creamy white to pale yellow and 10-30cm across. Of the 9 tepals, the inner 6 are 7.6-15.2cm long and 2-5cm wide. The outer 3 tepals are shorter. The stamens are 1.3-2.5cm long and white. The pedicels are 2.5-7.6cm long and glabrous. The follicetum is ovoid, 5-13cm long and 2.5-5cm in diameter. It is glabrous and rose-red but becoming brown or purplish when mature. The outer seed coats are red." It flowers April-May, and fruits July-August. She goes on to say that the species has one variety- pyramidata. Plants belonging to M. fraseri var. pyramidata differ "...from var. fraseri in being a smaller tree, and in having more rhombic or kite-shaped leaves, smaller flowers, smaller gynoecia, shorter stamens, and shorter folliceta (Callaway,1994).

Magnolia fraseri

M.fraseri var pyramidata

Geography: According to Duncan & Duncan, M. fraseri is "...present to over 1500m elevation in sAppalachians." It is found in "...rich woods; along creeks and rivers, and especially on mountain slopes" (Duncan et al.,1988). Callaway goes on to say, "Magnolia fraseri var. pyramidata is found in the coastal plain, whereas typical var. fraseri grows exclusively in the mountains... Rich, moist soil provides the best growing conditions" (Callaway,1994).

North American Distribution of M. fraseri