An analysis of the unique character of the Southern magnolia, giving you a comprehensive understanding of this tree species

A little knowledge about the Southern magnolia

The Southern magnolia belongs to the Magnoliaceae family and is also called the foreign magnolia or lotus magnolia. The Southern magnolia is an evergreen tree, with thick leathery leaves, large and fragrant flowers, a majestic and magnificent tree form, a relatively precious tree species, and a long lifespan. This tree is relatively widely planted in Kunshan. The character "Guang" implies Kunshan's broad-mindedness and magnanimity in embracing all rivers and drawing on others' strengths; the character "Yu" implies the city character of "Kunshan has jade, and the jade lies in its people"; the character "Lan" implies Kunqu opera, the "ancestor of a hundred operas," this "orchid of the opera garden." And these three characters are basically open-mouthed sounds, with beautiful tones.

Morphological characteristics of the Southern magnolia

The Southern magnolia is a large evergreen tree, 20-30 m tall. The bark is light brown or gray, splitting in thin scales. Branches and buds have rusty-colored fine hairs. Leaves are long elliptical, alternate; petioles 1.5-4 cm long, with brown short soft hairs on the underside; stipules separate from the petiole; leaves leathery, blades elliptical or obovate-oblong, 10-20 cm long, 4-10 cm wide, apex blunt or acuminate, base cuneate, dark green and glossy above, light green below with rusty-colored fine hairs, 8-9 pairs of lateral veins. Flowers fragrant, white, cup-shaped, 15-20 cm in diameter, shaped like lotus blossoms when open; pedicels sturdy and downy; tepals 9-12, obovate, thick and fleshy; stamens numerous, about 2 cm long, filaments flat, purple, anthers introrse, connective extending into a short pointed tip; gynoecium elliptical, densely covered with long down, carpels ovate, 1-1.5 cm long, style curved. Aggregate fruit cylindrical-oblong or ovate, densely covered with brown or grayish-yellow down, fruit apex with a long beak. Seeds elliptical or ovate, laterally flattened, about 1.4 cm long and about 6 mm wide.

Growth habits of the Southern magnolia

The Southern magnolia grows best in light and is slightly shade-tolerant when young. It prefers a warm and humid climate and has a certain cold resistance. It is suitable for growing in dry, fertile, moist and well-drained slightly acidic or neutral soil; when planted in alkaline soil it is prone to yellowing, and it dislikes waterlogging and poor drainage. It has strong resistance to smoke, dust and sulfur dioxide gas, and few pests and diseases. Its root system is deep and extensive, and it has strong wind resistance. In particular, seedling-grown trees have straight trunks, a majestic tree form, and strong adaptability.

Origin and distribution of the Southern magnolia

The Southern magnolia originated in South America and is distributed in North America as well as in the Yangtze River basin and south of it in mainland China; in northern places such as Beijing and Lanzhou, it has already been introduced and cultivated by humans. It is the city tree of Changzhou, Nantong and Lianyungang in Jiangsu Province, Hefei in Anhui Province, and Yuyao in Zhejiang Province. It is also relatively common in Shanghai, Nanjing and Hangzhou in the Yangtze River basin.