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{{otheruses1|the plant}}
{{Taxobox
| color = lightgreen
| name = ''Magnolia''
| image = Magnolia Watsoni.JPG
| image_width = 240px
| image_caption = ''Magnolia x wieseneri''
| regnum = [[Plant]]ae
| divisio = [[Flowering plant|Magnoliophyta]]
| classis = [[Magnoliopsida]]
| ordo = [[Magnoliales]]
| familia = [[Magnoliaceae]]
| genus = '''''Magnolia'''''
| genus_authority = [[Carolus Linnaeus|L.]]
| subdivision_ranks = Species
| subdivision = See text
}}
{{commons|Magnolia}}
'''''Magnolia''''' is a large [[genus]] of about 210<ref>The number of species in the genus ''Magnolia'' depends on the taxonomic view that one takes up. Recent molecular and [[morphology (biology)|morphological]] research shows that former genera ''Talauma'', ''Dugandiodendron'', ''Manglietia'', ''Michelia'', ''Elmerrillia'', ''Kmeria'', ''Parakmeria'', ''Pachylarnax'' (and a small number of monospecific genera) all belong within the same genus, ''Magnolia'' s.l. (s.l. = ''sensu lato'': 'in a broad sense', as opposed to s.s. = ''sensu stricto'': 'in a narrow sense'). The genus ''Magnolia'' s.s. contains about 120 species. See the section [[Magnolia#Nomenclature and classification|Nomenclature and classification]] in this article.</ref> [[flowering plant]] [[species]] in the subfamily [[Magnolioideae]] of the family [[Magnoliaceae]].
The natural range of ''Magnolia'' species is rather scattered and includes eastern [[North America]], [[Central America]] and the [[West Indies]] and east and southeast [[Asia]]. Some species are found in [[South America]]. Today many species of ''Magnolia'' and an ever increasing number of hybrids can also be found as ornamental trees in large parts of North America, Europe, Australia and New Zealand. The Magnolia tree is also found in [[Bottomland]] areas.
The genus is named after [[French people|French]] botanist [[Pierre Magnol]], from [[Montpellier]]. See [[Magnolia#Origin of the name Magnolia|Origin of the name ''Magnolia'']].
''Magnolia'' is an ancient genus. Having evolved before [[bee]]s appeared, the flowers developed to encourage pollination by [[beetle]]s. As a result, the [[carpel]]s of ''Magnolia'' flowers are tough, to avoid damage by eating and crawling beetles. [[Fossil|Fossilised]] specimens of ''M. acuminata'' have been found dating to 20 million years ago, and of plants identifiably belonging to the Magnoliaceae dating back to 95 million years ago. Another primitive aspect of Magnolias is their lack of distinct [[sepal]]s or [[petal]]s. The term [[tepal]] has been coined to refer to the intermediate element that ''Magnolia'' has instead. Magnolias are used as food plants by the [[larva]]e of some [[Lepidoptera]] species including [[Giant Leopard Moth]].
Magnolia grandiflora is the official [[List of U.S. state flowers|state flower]] of both [[Mississippi]] and [[Louisiana]]<ref>For this reason, it has become a symbol of support for the regions most heavily damaged by [[Hurricane Katrina]] in the late summer of 2005 (for example, presenters at the 2005 [[Emmy Awards]] on [[September 18]], 2005, wore magnolias on their [[lapel]]s, as did host [[Ellen DeGeneres]], a [[New Orleans]] native).</ref>. The flower's abundance in Mississippi is reflected in its [[state nickname]], "Magnolia State". The magnolia is also the official [[List of U.S. state trees|state tree]] of Mississippi.
== Origin of the name ''Magnolia'' ==
In 1703 [[Charles Plumier]] (1646-1704) described a flowering tree from the island of [[Martinique]] in his ''[[Genera]]''<ref>Plumier, C. (1703) ''Nova plantarum Americanarum genera''. Paris. [New genera of American plants].</ref>. He gave the species, known locally as 'Talauma', the genus name ''Magnolia'', after [[Pierre Magnol]]. The English botanist [[William Sherard]], who studied botany in Paris under [[Joseph Pitton de Tournefort]], a pupil of Magnol, was most probably the first after Plumier to adopt the genus name ''Magnolia''. He was at least responsible for the taxonomic part of [[Johann Jacob Dillenius]]'s ''Hortus Elthamensis''<ref>Dillenius, J.J. (1732), ''Hortus Elthamensis, seu plantarum rariorum quas in horto suo Elthami in Cantio coluit vir ornamentissimus et praestantissimus Jacobus Sherard''. London [The garden of Eltham, or rather about the rare plants that the most distinguished and prominent man Jacob Sherard grows in his garden in Eltham in Kent].</ref> and of [[Mark Catesby]]'s famous ''Natural history of Carolina''<ref>Catesby, M. (1731), The natural history of Carolina, Florida and the Bahama Islands, containing the figures of birds, beasts, fishes, serpents, insects and plants, Vol. 1. London.</ref>. These were the first works after Plumier's ''Genera'' that used the name ''Magnolia'', this time for some species of flowering trees from temperate North America.
[[Carolus Linnaeus]], who was familiar with Plumier's ''Genera'', adopted the genus name ''Magnolia'' in 1735 in his first edition of ''[[Systema Naturae|Systema naturae]]'', without a description but with a reference to Plumier's work. In 1753, he took up Plumier's ''Magnolia'' in the first edition of ''[[Species Plantarum|Species plantarum]]''. Since Linnaeus never saw a herbarium specimen (if there has ever been one) of Plumier's ''Magnolia'' and had only his description and a rather poor picture at hand, he must have taken it for the same plant which was described by Catesby in his 1731 '''Natural History of Carolina'', and placed it in the [[synonymy]] of ''Magnolia virginiana'' variety ''foetida'', the [[taxon]] now known as ''Magnolia grandiflora''.
The species that Plumier originally named ''Magnolia'' was later described as ''Annona dodecapetala'' by [[Lamarck]]<ref>Lamarck, J.B.P.A. de (1786), ''Encyclopédie Méthodique Botanique'', tome second: 127. Paris.</ref>, and has since been named ''Magnolia plumieri'' and ''Talauma plumieri'' (and still a number of other names) but is now known as ''Magnolia dodecapetala''<ref>Under the rule of priority, the first name that is validly published in Linnaeus' ''Species plantarum'' ([[1 May]][[1753]]) or any other work of any other botanist after that, takes precedence over later names. Plumier's name was not a binomen and moreover published before ''Species plantarum'', so it has no status. The first binomen that was published after 1753 was Lamarck's ''Annona dodecapetala'' (1786). ''Magnolia plumieri'' (1788) was published on a later date by Schwartz, and is treated as a later synonym, as are ''Magnolia fatiscens'' (1817; Richard), ''Talauma caerulea'' (Jaume St-Hilaire 1805) and ''Magnolia linguifolia'' (1822).</ref>.
xx
== Early references and descriptions ==
Magnolias have long been known and used in China. References to their medicinal qualities go back to as early as 1083<ref>Treseder (p. 9) quotes the "Cheng Lei Pen Tshao" (Reclassified Pharmaceutical Natural History).</ref>. After the Spanish conquest of Mexico, [[Philip II of Spain|Philip II]] commissioned his court physician [[Francisco Hernandez]] in 1570 to undertake a scientific expedition. Hernandez made numerous descriptions of plants, accompanied by drawings, but publication was delayed and hampered by a number of consecutive accidents. Between 1629 and 1651 the material was re-edited by members of the [[Accademia dei Lincei|Academy of Lincei]] and issued (1651) in three editions as ''Nova plantarum historia Mexicana''. This work contains a drawing of a plant under the vernacular name Eloxochitl, that is almost certainly ''Magnolia dealbata'' (= ''Magnolia macrophylla'' subsp. ''dealbata''). This must have been the first-ever description of a ''Magnolia'' that came to the Western World<ref>Treseder, N.G. (1978), Magnolias: 9-13.</ref>.
It is unclear whether there are early descriptions made by English or French [[Missionary|missionaries]] that were sent to [[North America]] but the first introduction of a Magnolia into Europe is well documented. It was the missionary and plant collector [[John Bannister]] (1654-1693) who sent back ''Laurus tulipifera, foliis subtus ex cinereo aut argenteo purpurascentibus''<ref>Laurel-leaved tulip tree, with leaves of which the under sides from ash grey or silvery grey turn into purplish.</ref> from [[Virginia]] in 1688, to [[Henry Compton]], the Bishop of London. This species is now known as ''Magnolia virginiana'' (Sweetbay magnolia). Thus the first ''Magnolia'' had already found its way to Europe before Charles Plumier discovered his Talauma on Martinique and gave it the name ''Magnolia''<ref>Treseder, N.G. (1978), Magnolias: 14.</ref>.
== Nomenclature and classification ==
When [[Carolus Linnaeus|Linnaeus]] took up ''Magnolia'' in his ''[[Species Plantarum|Species plantarum]]'' (1753), he created a lemma of only one species: ''Magnolia virginiana''. Under that species he described five varieties (''glauca'', ''foetida'', ''grisea'', ''tripetala'' and ''acuminata''). In the tenth edition of ''[[Systema Naturae|Systema naturae]]'' (1759), he merged ''grisea'' with ''glauca'', and raised the four remaining varieties to specific status<ref>''Magnolia glauca'' has the same type specimen as ''Magnolia virginiana'' and as the latter is the first valid name, the species is now called ''Magnolia virginiana'' (Sweetbay magnolia). Var. ''foetida'' was renamed ''Magnolia grandiflora'', which is legitimate as the epithet ''foetida'' only has priority in its rank of variety. ''Magnolia grandiflora'' is the Southern magnolia. ''Magnolia tripetala'' (Umbrella magnolia) and ''Magnolia acuminata'' (Cucumber tree) are still recognized as species.</ref>.
By the end of the 18th century, botanists and plant hunters exploring Asia began to name and describe the ''Magnolia'' species from China and Japan. The first Asiatic species to be described by western botanists were ''Magnolia denudata'' and ''Magnolia liliiflora''<ref>Under these names the species were described by [[Desrousseaux]] in [[Lamarck]]'s ''Encyclopédie Méthodique Botanique'', tome troisieme (1792): 675. In the beginning of the 20th century, descriptions which seemed to represent the same species, were found in a work of the French naturalist P.J. Buc'hoz, ''Plantes nouvellement découvertes'' (1779), under the names ''Lassonia heptapeta'' and ''Lassonia quinquepeta''. In 1934, the English botanist J.E. Dandy argued that these names had priority over the names by which both species had been known for over a century and hence from then on ''Magnolia denudata'' had to be named ''Magnolia heptapeta'', ''Magnolia liliiflora'' should be changed into ''Magnolia quinquepeta''. After a lengthy debate, specialist taxonomists decided that the Buc'hoz names were based on chimaeras (pictures constructed of elements of different species), and as Buc'hoz did not cite or preserve herbarium specimens, his names were ruled not to be acceptable.</ref>, and ''Magnolia coco'' and ''Magnolia figo''<ref>These species were published as ''Liriodendron coco'' and ''Liriodendron figo'' by J. de Loureiro in ''Flora Cochinchinensis'' (1790) and later (1817) transferred to ''Magnolia'' by [[A. P. de Candolle]]. ''Magnolia figo'' was soon after transferred to the genus ''Michelia''.</ref>. Soon after that, in 1794, [[Carl Peter Thunberg]] collected and described ''Magnolia obovata'' from Japan and, within a close proximity to that period, ''Magnolia kobus'' was also first collected<ref>''Magnolia kobus'' only received its name in 1814, when it was validly published by A.P. de Candolle. There has been much confusion about earlier attempts to validly publish this species, especially because descriptions and type specimens did not match.</ref>.
With the number of species increasing, the genus was divided into subgenus ''Magnolia'', and subgenus ''Yulania''. ''Magnolia'' contains the American evergreen species ''Magnolia grandiflora'', which is of [[horticulture|horticultural]] importance, especially in the [[United States]], and ''Magnolia virginiana'', the type species. ''Yulania'' contains several [[deciduous]] Asiatic species, such as ''Magnolia denudata'' and ''Magnolia kobus'', which have become horticulturally important in their own right and as parents in hybrids. Classified in ''Yulania'', is also the American deciduous ''Magnolia acuminata'' (Cucumber tree), which has recently attained greater status as the parent which is responsible for the yellow flower colour in many new hybrids.
Relations in the family Magnoliaceae have been puzzling taxonomists for a long time. Because the family is quite old and has survived many geological events (such as ice ages, mountain formation and continental drift), its distribution has become scattered. Some species or groups of species have been isolated for a long time, while others could stay in close contact. To create divisions in the family (or even within the genus ''Magnolia''), solely based upon morphological characters, has proven to be a near impossible task<ref>In 1927 J.E. Dandy accepted 10 genera in ''The genera of Magnoliaceae'', ''Kew Bulletin 1927'': 257-264. In 1984 Law Yuh-Wu proposed 15 in ''A preliminary study on the taxonomy of the family Magnoliaceae'', Acta Phytotaxonomica Sinica 22: 89-109; in 2004 even 16, in ''Magnolias of China''. This is not just about grouping some genera together where others do not; authors often choose different boundaries.</ref>
By the end of the 20th century, [[DNA sequencing]] had become available as a method of large scale research on [[Phylogenetics|phylogenetic relationships]]. Several studies, including studies on many species in the family Magnoliaceae, were carried out to investigate relationships<ref>Azuma, H., L.B. Thien & S. Kawano (1999), Molecular phylogeny of ''Magnolia'' (Magnoliaceae) inferred from cpDNA sequences and evolutionary divergence of the floral scents. ''Journal of Plant Research'' 112(1107): 291-306.</ref><ref>Azuma, H., García-Franco, J.G., Rico-Gray, V., and Thien, L.B. (2001). Molecular phylogeny of the Magnoliaceae: the biogeography of tropical and temperate disjunctions. American Journal of Botany. 88: 2275-2285.</ref><ref>Kim, S. et al. (2001), Phylogenetic relationships in family Magnoliaceae inferred from ndhF sequences. ''American Journal of Botany''. 88(4): 717-728.</ref>. What these studies all revealed was that genus ''Michelia'' and ''Magnolia'' subgenus ''Yulania'' were far more closely allied to each other than either one of them was to ''Magnolia'' subgenus ''Magnolia''. These phylogenetic studies were supported by morphological data<ref>Figlar, R.B. (2000), Proleptic branch initiation in ''Michelia'' and ''Magnolia'' subgenus ''Yulania'' provides basis for combinations in subfamily Magnolioideae. In: Liu Yu-hu et al., ''Proceedings of the International Symposium on the Family Magnoliaceae'': 14-25, Science Press, Beijing.</ref>.
As nomenclature is supposed to reflect relationships, the situation with the species names in ''Michelia'' and ''Magnolia'' subgenus ''Yulania'' was undesirable. Taxonomically there are three choices; '''1''': to join ''Michelia'' and ''Yulania'' species in a common genus, not being ''Magnolia'' (for which the name ''Michelia'' has priority); '''2''': to raise subgenus ''Yulania'' to generic rank, leaving ''Michelia'' names and subgenus ''Magnolia'' names untouched; or '''3''': to join ''Michelia'' with genus ''Magnolia'' into genus ''Magnolia'' s.l. (a big genus). ''Magnolia'' subgenus ''Magnolia'' can not be renamed because it contains ''Magnolia virginiana'', the type species of the genus and of the family.
Not many ''Michelia'' species have so far become horticulturally or economically important, apart for their wood. Both subgenus ''Magnolia'' and subgenus ''Yulania'' include species of major horticultural importance, and a change of name would be very undesirable for many people, especially in the horticultural branch. In Europe, ''Magnolia'' even is more or less synonym for ''Yulania'', since most of the cultivated species in this continent have ''Magnolia (Yulania) denudata'' as one of their parents. Most taxonomists who acknowledge close relations between ''Yulania'' and ''Michelia'' therefore support the third option and join ''Michelia'' with ''Magnolia''.
The same goes, ''mutatis mutandis'', for the (former) genera ''Talauma'' and ''Dugandiodendron'', which are then placed in subgenus ''Magnolia'', and genus ''Manglietia'', which could be joined with subgenus ''Magnolia'' or may even earn the status of an extra subgenus. ''Elmerrillia'' seems to be closely related to ''Michelia'' and ''Yulania'', in which case it will most likely be treated in the same way as ''Michelia'' is now. The precise nomenclatural status of small or monospecific genera like ''Kmeria'', ''Parakmeria'', ''Pachylarnax'', ''Manglietiastrum'', ''Aromadendron'', ''Woonyoungia'', ''Alcimandra'', ''Paramichelia'' and ''Tsoongiodendron'' remains uncertain. Taxonomists who merge ''Michelia'' into ''Magnolia'' tend to merge these small genera into ''Magnolia'' s.l. as well. At present, western botanist tend toward a big ''Magnolia'' genus, whereas many Chinese botanists still recognize the different small genera.
== Selected species of ''Magnolia'' ==
''Note: the following list only includes temperate species; many other species occur in tropical areas. For a full list, see the [http://www.magnoliasociety.org/classification_docs/classifications.html Magnolia Society list]''
*'''''Magnolia'' subgenus ''Magnolia'':''' [[Anthers]] open by splitting at the front facing the centre of the flower. [[Deciduous]] or [[evergreen]]. [[Flower]]s produced after the [[leaf|leaves]]. <!-- Image with unknown copyright status removed: [[Image:Magnolia.jpg|thumb|right|''Magnolia grandiflora'' flower]] -->
**''[[Magnolia delavayi]]'' - Chinese evergreen magnolia
**''[[Magnolia fraseri]]'' - Fraser magnolia
**''[[Magnolia globosa]]'' - Globe magnolia
**''[[Magnolia grandiflora]]'' - Southern magnolia or bull bay
**''[[Magnolia guatemalensis]]'' - Guatemalan magnolia
**''Magnolia lenticellata''
**''[[Magnolia macrophylla]]'' - Bigleaf magnolia
***''Magnolia macrophylla'' subsp. ''ashei'' - Ashe magnolia
***''Magnolia macrophylla'' subsp. ''dealbata'' - Mexican bigleaf magnolia
**''Magnolia nitida'' -
**''[[Magnolia obovata]]'' - Japanese bigleaf magnolia
**''[[Magnolia officinalis]]'' - Houpu magnolia
**''[[Magnolia sieboldii]]'' - Siebold's magnolia
**''[[Magnolia tripetala]]'' - Umbrella magnolia
**''[[Magnolia virginiana]]'' - Sweetbay magnolia
**''[[Magnolia wilsonii]]'' - Wilson's magnolia
*'''''Magnolia'' subgenus ''Yulania'':''' [[Anther]]s open by splitting at the sides. Deciduous. Flowers mostly produced before leaves (except ''M. acuminata'').
**''[[Magnolia acuminata]]'' - Cucumber tree
**''[[Magnolia amoena]]'' -
**''[[Magnolia biondii]]'' -
**''[[Magnolia campbellii]]'' - Campbell's magnolia
**''[[Magnolia cylindrica]]'' -
**''[[Magnolia dawsoniana]]'' - Dawson's magnolia
**''[[Magnolia denudata]]'' - Yulan magnolia
**''[[Magnolia hypoleuca]]'' - Whitebark Magnolia
**''[[Magnolia kobus]]'' - Kobushi magnolia
**''[[Magnolia liliiflora]]'' - Mulan magnolia
**''[[Magnolia salicifolia]]'' - Willow-leafed magnolia
**''[[Magnolia sargentiana]]'' - Sargent's magnolia
**''[[Magnolia sprengeri]]'' - Sprenger's magnolia
**''[[Magnolia stellata]]'' - Star magnolia
**''[[Magnolia zenii]]'' -
*Other
**''[[Magnolia hodgsonii]]''
**''[[Magnolia sirindhorniae]]'' - [[Princess Sirindhorn's magnolia]]
== Uses ==
In general, ''Magnolia'' is a genus which has attracted a lot of horticultural interest. [[Hybrid]]isation has been immensely successful in combining the best aspects of different species to give plants which flower at an earlier age than the species themselves, as well as having more impressive flowers. One of the most popular garden magnolias is a hybrid, ''M. x soulangeana'' ([[Saucer magnolia]]; hybrid ''M. liliiflora'' x ''M. denudata'').
The bark from ''M. officinalis'' has long been used in [[traditional Chinese medicine]], where it is known as ''houpu''. In Japan, ''M. obovata'' has been used in a similar manner. The aromatic bark contains magnolol and <!-- redirect to the honokiol page ~~~~ --><!-- #REDIRECT --> [[honokiol]], two [[polyphenolic]] compounds that have demonstrated anti-anxiety and anti-[[angiogenic]] properties. Magnolia bark also has been shown to reduce allergic and asthmatic reactions.<ref>[http://www.supplementwatch.com/suplib/supplement.asp?DocId=2096 SupplementWatch library entry on Magnolia Bark]</ref> <ref>[http://www.guangsong-pharm.com.cn/Product/Magnolia.htm Guangsong Pharmaceutical page on Magnolia Bark Extract]</ref>
==Gallery==
<gallery>
Image:Magnolia hypoleuca.jpg|''[[Magnolia hypoleuca]]''</br>[[Morton Arboretum]]</br>acc. 1286-56-1
Image:Magnolia seepod.jpg|An unripe ''Magnolia'' seedpod.
Image:Magnolia seeds.jpg|The seeds are exposed when the fruit splits open.
Image:Magnolia blossom.jpg|''Magnolia x soulangeana'' flower.
Image:Magnoliajane.jpg|''Magnolia'' 'Jane'
Image:Magnolie.jpg|Flower of a Magnolia Tree
Image:Magnolia8309.JPG|''Magnolia grandiflora'' (Southern magnolia) - a large tree at [[Hemingway, South Carolina]]
Image:Magnolia grandiflora flower.JPG|Flower of ''Magnolia grandiflora'' (Southern magnolia)
</gallery>
==References==
{{reflist}}
*Treseder, N.G. (1978). ''Magnolias''. London/Boston, Faber & Faber. ISBN 0-571-09619-0
*Callaway, D.J. (1994). ''The World of Magnolias''. Portland, Oregon, Timber Press. ISBN 0-88192-236-6
*Hunt, D. (ed). (1998). ''Magnolias and Their Allies''. International Dendrology Society & Magnolia Society. ISBN 0-9517234-8-0
*Law, Y.W. (= Liu, Y.H.) (2004). ''Magnolias of China''. Hong-Kong, Beijing Science & Technology Press. ISBN 7-5304-2765-2
==External links==
*[http://www.fna.org/china/mss/volume07/Magnoliaceae-CAS_coauthoring.htm Flora of China: Magnoliaceae (draft account)]
*[http://www.bgci.org/conservation/magnolia_threat Magnolias: 50% Face Extinction] from [[Botanic Gardens Conservation International]]
*[http://www.bgci.org/conservation/magnolia_threat Magnolias: Bloom or Doom? (Botanic Gardens Conservation International)]
*[http://www.magnoliasociety.org/ Magnolia Society]
*[http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=9453862 "Magnolias Threatened by Logging, Development"] from [[National Public Radio]]
*[http://www.urbanext.uiuc.edu/treeselector/search_results.cfm?q=magnolia Selecting Trees for your Home - Magnolia Trees] University of Illinois Extension
[[Category:Magnolias| ]]
[[Category:Horticulture]]
[[category:Living fossils]]
(draw-solid-disk (make-posn 20 20) 50 50 'red))
{{Taxobox
| color = lightgreen
| name = ''Magnolia''
| image = Magnolia Watsoni.JPG
| image_width = 240px
| image_caption = ''Magnolia x wieseneri''
| regnum = [[Plant]]ae
| divisio = [[Flowering plant|Magnoliophyta]]
| classis = [[Magnoliopsida]]
| ordo = [[Magnoliales]]
| familia = [[Magnoliaceae]]
| genus = '''''Magnolia'''''
| genus_authority = [[Carolus Linnaeus|L.]]
| subdivision_ranks = Species
| subdivision = See text
}}
{{commons|Magnolia}}
'''''Magnolia''''' is a large [[genus]] of about 210<ref>The number of species in the genus ''Magnolia'' depends on the taxonomic view that one takes up. Recent molecular and [[morphology (biology)|morphological]] research shows that former genera ''Talauma'', ''Dugandiodendron'', ''Manglietia'', ''Michelia'', ''Elmerrillia'', ''Kmeria'', ''Parakmeria'', ''Pachylarnax'' (and a small number of monospecific genera) all belong within the same genus, ''Magnolia'' s.l. (s.l. = ''sensu lato'': 'in a broad sense', as opposed to s.s. = ''sensu stricto'': 'in a narrow sense'). The genus ''Magnolia'' s.s. contains about 120 species. See the section [[Magnolia#Nomenclature and classification|Nomenclature and classification]] in this article.</ref> [[flowering plant]] [[species]] in the subfamily [[Magnolioideae]] of the family [[Magnoliaceae]].
The natural range of ''Magnolia'' species is rather scattered and includes eastern [[North America]], [[Central America]] and the [[West Indies]] and east and southeast [[Asia]]. Some species are found in [[South America]]. Today many species of ''Magnolia'' and an ever increasing number of hybrids can also be found as ornamental trees in large parts of North America, Europe, Australia and New Zealand. The Magnolia tree is also found in [[Bottomland]] areas.
The genus is named after [[French people|French]] botanist [[Pierre Magnol]], from [[Montpellier]]. See [[Magnolia#Origin of the name Magnolia|Origin of the name ''Magnolia'']].
''Magnolia'' is an ancient genus. Having evolved before [[bee]]s appeared, the flowers developed to encourage pollination by [[beetle]]s. As a result, the [[carpel]]s of ''Magnolia'' flowers are tough, to avoid damage by eating and crawling beetles. [[Fossil|Fossilised]] specimens of ''M. acuminata'' have been found dating to 20 million years ago, and of plants identifiably belonging to the Magnoliaceae dating back to 95 million years ago. Another primitive aspect of Magnolias is their lack of distinct [[sepal]]s or [[petal]]s. The term [[tepal]] has been coined to refer to the intermediate element that ''Magnolia'' has instead. Magnolias are used as food plants by the [[larva]]e of some [[Lepidoptera]] species including [[Giant Leopard Moth]].
Magnolia grandiflora is the official [[List of U.S. state flowers|state flower]] of both [[Mississippi]] and [[Louisiana]]<ref>For this reason, it has become a symbol of support for the regions most heavily damaged by [[Hurricane Katrina]] in the late summer of 2005 (for example, presenters at the 2005 [[Emmy Awards]] on [[September 18]], 2005, wore magnolias on their [[lapel]]s, as did host [[Ellen DeGeneres]], a [[New Orleans]] native).</ref>. The flower's abundance in Mississippi is reflected in its [[state nickname]], "Magnolia State". The magnolia is also the official [[List of U.S. state trees|state tree]] of Mississippi.
== Origin of the name ''Magnolia'' ==
In 1703 [[Charles Plumier]] (1646-1704) described a flowering tree from the island of [[Martinique]] in his ''[[Genera]]''<ref>Plumier, C. (1703) ''Nova plantarum Americanarum genera''. Paris. [New genera of American plants].</ref>. He gave the species, known locally as 'Talauma', the genus name ''Magnolia'', after [[Pierre Magnol]]. The English botanist [[William Sherard]], who studied botany in Paris under [[Joseph Pitton de Tournefort]], a pupil of Magnol, was most probably the first after Plumier to adopt the genus name ''Magnolia''. He was at least responsible for the taxonomic part of [[Johann Jacob Dillenius]]'s ''Hortus Elthamensis''<ref>Dillenius, J.J. (1732), ''Hortus Elthamensis, seu plantarum rariorum quas in horto suo Elthami in Cantio coluit vir ornamentissimus et praestantissimus Jacobus Sherard''. London [The garden of Eltham, or rather about the rare plants that the most distinguished and prominent man Jacob Sherard grows in his garden in Eltham in Kent].</ref> and of [[Mark Catesby]]'s famous ''Natural history of Carolina''<ref>Catesby, M. (1731), The natural history of Carolina, Florida and the Bahama Islands, containing the figures of birds, beasts, fishes, serpents, insects and plants, Vol. 1. London.</ref>. These were the first works after Plumier's ''Genera'' that used the name ''Magnolia'', this time for some species of flowering trees from temperate North America.
[[Carolus Linnaeus]], who was familiar with Plumier's ''Genera'', adopted the genus name ''Magnolia'' in 1735 in his first edition of ''[[Systema Naturae|Systema naturae]]'', without a description but with a reference to Plumier's work. In 1753, he took up Plumier's ''Magnolia'' in the first edition of ''[[Species Plantarum|Species plantarum]]''. Since Linnaeus never saw a herbarium specimen (if there has ever been one) of Plumier's ''Magnolia'' and had only his description and a rather poor picture at hand, he must have taken it for the same plant which was described by Catesby in his 1731 '''Natural History of Carolina'', and placed it in the [[synonymy]] of ''Magnolia virginiana'' variety ''foetida'', the [[taxon]] now known as ''Magnolia grandiflora''.
The species that Plumier originally named ''Magnolia'' was later described as ''Annona dodecapetala'' by [[Lamarck]]<ref>Lamarck, J.B.P.A. de (1786), ''Encyclopédie Méthodique Botanique'', tome second: 127. Paris.</ref>, and has since been named ''Magnolia plumieri'' and ''Talauma plumieri'' (and still a number of other names) but is now known as ''Magnolia dodecapetala''<ref>Under the rule of priority, the first name that is validly published in Linnaeus' ''Species plantarum'' ([[1 May]][[1753]]) or any other work of any other botanist after that, takes precedence over later names. Plumier's name was not a binomen and moreover published before ''Species plantarum'', so it has no status. The first binomen that was published after 1753 was Lamarck's ''Annona dodecapetala'' (1786). ''Magnolia plumieri'' (1788) was published on a later date by Schwartz, and is treated as a later synonym, as are ''Magnolia fatiscens'' (1817; Richard), ''Talauma caerulea'' (Jaume St-Hilaire 1805) and ''Magnolia linguifolia'' (1822).</ref>.
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== Early references and descriptions ==
Magnolias have long been known and used in China. References to their medicinal qualities go back to as early as 1083<ref>Treseder (p. 9) quotes the "Cheng Lei Pen Tshao" (Reclassified Pharmaceutical Natural History).</ref>. After the Spanish conquest of Mexico, [[Philip II of Spain|Philip II]] commissioned his court physician [[Francisco Hernandez]] in 1570 to undertake a scientific expedition. Hernandez made numerous descriptions of plants, accompanied by drawings, but publication was delayed and hampered by a number of consecutive accidents. Between 1629 and 1651 the material was re-edited by members of the [[Accademia dei Lincei|Academy of Lincei]] and issued (1651) in three editions as ''Nova plantarum historia Mexicana''. This work contains a drawing of a plant under the vernacular name Eloxochitl, that is almost certainly ''Magnolia dealbata'' (= ''Magnolia macrophylla'' subsp. ''dealbata''). This must have been the first-ever description of a ''Magnolia'' that came to the Western World<ref>Treseder, N.G. (1978), Magnolias: 9-13.</ref>.
It is unclear whether there are early descriptions made by English or French [[Missionary|missionaries]] that were sent to [[North America]] but the first introduction of a Magnolia into Europe is well documented. It was the missionary and plant collector [[John Bannister]] (1654-1693) who sent back ''Laurus tulipifera, foliis subtus ex cinereo aut argenteo purpurascentibus''<ref>Laurel-leaved tulip tree, with leaves of which the under sides from ash grey or silvery grey turn into purplish.</ref> from [[Virginia]] in 1688, to [[Henry Compton]], the Bishop of London. This species is now known as ''Magnolia virginiana'' (Sweetbay magnolia). Thus the first ''Magnolia'' had already found its way to Europe before Charles Plumier discovered his Talauma on Martinique and gave it the name ''Magnolia''<ref>Treseder, N.G. (1978), Magnolias: 14.</ref>.
== Nomenclature and classification ==
When [[Carolus Linnaeus|Linnaeus]] took up ''Magnolia'' in his ''[[Species Plantarum|Species plantarum]]'' (1753), he created a lemma of only one species: ''Magnolia virginiana''. Under that species he described five varieties (''glauca'', ''foetida'', ''grisea'', ''tripetala'' and ''acuminata''). In the tenth edition of ''[[Systema Naturae|Systema naturae]]'' (1759), he merged ''grisea'' with ''glauca'', and raised the four remaining varieties to specific status<ref>''Magnolia glauca'' has the same type specimen as ''Magnolia virginiana'' and as the latter is the first valid name, the species is now called ''Magnolia virginiana'' (Sweetbay magnolia). Var. ''foetida'' was renamed ''Magnolia grandiflora'', which is legitimate as the epithet ''foetida'' only has priority in its rank of variety. ''Magnolia grandiflora'' is the Southern magnolia. ''Magnolia tripetala'' (Umbrella magnolia) and ''Magnolia acuminata'' (Cucumber tree) are still recognized as species.</ref>.
By the end of the 18th century, botanists and plant hunters exploring Asia began to name and describe the ''Magnolia'' species from China and Japan. The first Asiatic species to be described by western botanists were ''Magnolia denudata'' and ''Magnolia liliiflora''<ref>Under these names the species were described by [[Desrousseaux]] in [[Lamarck]]'s ''Encyclopédie Méthodique Botanique'', tome troisieme (1792): 675. In the beginning of the 20th century, descriptions which seemed to represent the same species, were found in a work of the French naturalist P.J. Buc'hoz, ''Plantes nouvellement découvertes'' (1779), under the names ''Lassonia heptapeta'' and ''Lassonia quinquepeta''. In 1934, the English botanist J.E. Dandy argued that these names had priority over the names by which both species had been known for over a century and hence from then on ''Magnolia denudata'' had to be named ''Magnolia heptapeta'', ''Magnolia liliiflora'' should be changed into ''Magnolia quinquepeta''. After a lengthy debate, specialist taxonomists decided that the Buc'hoz names were based on chimaeras (pictures constructed of elements of different species), and as Buc'hoz did not cite or preserve herbarium specimens, his names were ruled not to be acceptable.</ref>, and ''Magnolia coco'' and ''Magnolia figo''<ref>These species were published as ''Liriodendron coco'' and ''Liriodendron figo'' by J. de Loureiro in ''Flora Cochinchinensis'' (1790) and later (1817) transferred to ''Magnolia'' by [[A. P. de Candolle]]. ''Magnolia figo'' was soon after transferred to the genus ''Michelia''.</ref>. Soon after that, in 1794, [[Carl Peter Thunberg]] collected and described ''Magnolia obovata'' from Japan and, within a close proximity to that period, ''Magnolia kobus'' was also first collected<ref>''Magnolia kobus'' only received its name in 1814, when it was validly published by A.P. de Candolle. There has been much confusion about earlier attempts to validly publish this species, especially because descriptions and type specimens did not match.</ref>.
With the number of species increasing, the genus was divided into subgenus ''Magnolia'', and subgenus ''Yulania''. ''Magnolia'' contains the American evergreen species ''Magnolia grandiflora'', which is of [[horticulture|horticultural]] importance, especially in the [[United States]], and ''Magnolia virginiana'', the type species. ''Yulania'' contains several [[deciduous]] Asiatic species, such as ''Magnolia denudata'' and ''Magnolia kobus'', which have become horticulturally important in their own right and as parents in hybrids. Classified in ''Yulania'', is also the American deciduous ''Magnolia acuminata'' (Cucumber tree), which has recently attained greater status as the parent which is responsible for the yellow flower colour in many new hybrids.
Relations in the family Magnoliaceae have been puzzling taxonomists for a long time. Because the family is quite old and has survived many geological events (such as ice ages, mountain formation and continental drift), its distribution has become scattered. Some species or groups of species have been isolated for a long time, while others could stay in close contact. To create divisions in the family (or even within the genus ''Magnolia''), solely based upon morphological characters, has proven to be a near impossible task<ref>In 1927 J.E. Dandy accepted 10 genera in ''The genera of Magnoliaceae'', ''Kew Bulletin 1927'': 257-264. In 1984 Law Yuh-Wu proposed 15 in ''A preliminary study on the taxonomy of the family Magnoliaceae'', Acta Phytotaxonomica Sinica 22: 89-109; in 2004 even 16, in ''Magnolias of China''. This is not just about grouping some genera together where others do not; authors often choose different boundaries.</ref>
By the end of the 20th century, [[DNA sequencing]] had become available as a method of large scale research on [[Phylogenetics|phylogenetic relationships]]. Several studies, including studies on many species in the family Magnoliaceae, were carried out to investigate relationships<ref>Azuma, H., L.B. Thien & S. Kawano (1999), Molecular phylogeny of ''Magnolia'' (Magnoliaceae) inferred from cpDNA sequences and evolutionary divergence of the floral scents. ''Journal of Plant Research'' 112(1107): 291-306.</ref><ref>Azuma, H., García-Franco, J.G., Rico-Gray, V., and Thien, L.B. (2001). Molecular phylogeny of the Magnoliaceae: the biogeography of tropical and temperate disjunctions. American Journal of Botany. 88: 2275-2285.</ref><ref>Kim, S. et al. (2001), Phylogenetic relationships in family Magnoliaceae inferred from ndhF sequences. ''American Journal of Botany''. 88(4): 717-728.</ref>. What these studies all revealed was that genus ''Michelia'' and ''Magnolia'' subgenus ''Yulania'' were far more closely allied to each other than either one of them was to ''Magnolia'' subgenus ''Magnolia''. These phylogenetic studies were supported by morphological data<ref>Figlar, R.B. (2000), Proleptic branch initiation in ''Michelia'' and ''Magnolia'' subgenus ''Yulania'' provides basis for combinations in subfamily Magnolioideae. In: Liu Yu-hu et al., ''Proceedings of the International Symposium on the Family Magnoliaceae'': 14-25, Science Press, Beijing.</ref>.
As nomenclature is supposed to reflect relationships, the situation with the species names in ''Michelia'' and ''Magnolia'' subgenus ''Yulania'' was undesirable. Taxonomically there are three choices; '''1''': to join ''Michelia'' and ''Yulania'' species in a common genus, not being ''Magnolia'' (for which the name ''Michelia'' has priority); '''2''': to raise subgenus ''Yulania'' to generic rank, leaving ''Michelia'' names and subgenus ''Magnolia'' names untouched; or '''3''': to join ''Michelia'' with genus ''Magnolia'' into genus ''Magnolia'' s.l. (a big genus). ''Magnolia'' subgenus ''Magnolia'' can not be renamed because it contains ''Magnolia virginiana'', the type species of the genus and of the family.
Not many ''Michelia'' species have so far become horticulturally or economically important, apart for their wood. Both subgenus ''Magnolia'' and subgenus ''Yulania'' include species of major horticultural importance, and a change of name would be very undesirable for many people, especially in the horticultural branch. In Europe, ''Magnolia'' even is more or less synonym for ''Yulania'', since most of the cultivated species in this continent have ''Magnolia (Yulania) denudata'' as one of their parents. Most taxonomists who acknowledge close relations between ''Yulania'' and ''Michelia'' therefore support the third option and join ''Michelia'' with ''Magnolia''.
The same goes, ''mutatis mutandis'', for the (former) genera ''Talauma'' and ''Dugandiodendron'', which are then placed in subgenus ''Magnolia'', and genus ''Manglietia'', which could be joined with subgenus ''Magnolia'' or may even earn the status of an extra subgenus. ''Elmerrillia'' seems to be closely related to ''Michelia'' and ''Yulania'', in which case it will most likely be treated in the same way as ''Michelia'' is now. The precise nomenclatural status of small or monospecific genera like ''Kmeria'', ''Parakmeria'', ''Pachylarnax'', ''Manglietiastrum'', ''Aromadendron'', ''Woonyoungia'', ''Alcimandra'', ''Paramichelia'' and ''Tsoongiodendron'' remains uncertain. Taxonomists who merge ''Michelia'' into ''Magnolia'' tend to merge these small genera into ''Magnolia'' s.l. as well. At present, western botanist tend toward a big ''Magnolia'' genus, whereas many Chinese botanists still recognize the different small genera.
== Selected species of ''Magnolia'' ==
''Note: the following list only includes temperate species; many other species occur in tropical areas. For a full list, see the [http://www.magnoliasociety.org/classification_docs/classifications.html Magnolia Society list]''
*'''''Magnolia'' subgenus ''Magnolia'':''' [[Anthers]] open by splitting at the front facing the centre of the flower. [[Deciduous]] or [[evergreen]]. [[Flower]]s produced after the [[leaf|leaves]]. <!-- Image with unknown copyright status removed: [[Image:Magnolia.jpg|thumb|right|''Magnolia grandiflora'' flower]] -->
**''[[Magnolia delavayi]]'' - Chinese evergreen magnolia
**''[[Magnolia fraseri]]'' - Fraser magnolia
**''[[Magnolia globosa]]'' - Globe magnolia
**''[[Magnolia grandiflora]]'' - Southern magnolia or bull bay
**''[[Magnolia guatemalensis]]'' - Guatemalan magnolia
**''Magnolia lenticellata''
**''[[Magnolia macrophylla]]'' - Bigleaf magnolia
***''Magnolia macrophylla'' subsp. ''ashei'' - Ashe magnolia
***''Magnolia macrophylla'' subsp. ''dealbata'' - Mexican bigleaf magnolia
**''Magnolia nitida'' -
**''[[Magnolia obovata]]'' - Japanese bigleaf magnolia
**''[[Magnolia officinalis]]'' - Houpu magnolia
**''[[Magnolia sieboldii]]'' - Siebold's magnolia
**''[[Magnolia tripetala]]'' - Umbrella magnolia
**''[[Magnolia virginiana]]'' - Sweetbay magnolia
**''[[Magnolia wilsonii]]'' - Wilson's magnolia
*'''''Magnolia'' subgenus ''Yulania'':''' [[Anther]]s open by splitting at the sides. Deciduous. Flowers mostly produced before leaves (except ''M. acuminata'').
**''[[Magnolia acuminata]]'' - Cucumber tree
**''[[Magnolia amoena]]'' -
**''[[Magnolia biondii]]'' -
**''[[Magnolia campbellii]]'' - Campbell's magnolia
**''[[Magnolia cylindrica]]'' -
**''[[Magnolia dawsoniana]]'' - Dawson's magnolia
**''[[Magnolia denudata]]'' - Yulan magnolia
**''[[Magnolia hypoleuca]]'' - Whitebark Magnolia
**''[[Magnolia kobus]]'' - Kobushi magnolia
**''[[Magnolia liliiflora]]'' - Mulan magnolia
**''[[Magnolia salicifolia]]'' - Willow-leafed magnolia
**''[[Magnolia sargentiana]]'' - Sargent's magnolia
**''[[Magnolia sprengeri]]'' - Sprenger's magnolia
**''[[Magnolia stellata]]'' - Star magnolia
**''[[Magnolia zenii]]'' -
*Other
**''[[Magnolia hodgsonii]]''
**''[[Magnolia sirindhorniae]]'' - [[Princess Sirindhorn's magnolia]]
== Uses ==
In general, ''Magnolia'' is a genus which has attracted a lot of horticultural interest. [[Hybrid]]isation has been immensely successful in combining the best aspects of different species to give plants which flower at an earlier age than the species themselves, as well as having more impressive flowers. One of the most popular garden magnolias is a hybrid, ''M. x soulangeana'' ([[Saucer magnolia]]; hybrid ''M. liliiflora'' x ''M. denudata'').
The bark from ''M. officinalis'' has long been used in [[traditional Chinese medicine]], where it is known as ''houpu''. In Japan, ''M. obovata'' has been used in a similar manner. The aromatic bark contains magnolol and <!-- redirect to the honokiol page ~~~~ --><!-- #REDIRECT --> [[honokiol]], two [[polyphenolic]] compounds that have demonstrated anti-anxiety and anti-[[angiogenic]] properties. Magnolia bark also has been shown to reduce allergic and asthmatic reactions.<ref>[http://www.supplementwatch.com/suplib/supplement.asp?DocId=2096 SupplementWatch library entry on Magnolia Bark]</ref> <ref>[http://www.guangsong-pharm.com.cn/Product/Magnolia.htm Guangsong Pharmaceutical page on Magnolia Bark Extract]</ref>
==Gallery==
<gallery>
Image:Magnolia hypoleuca.jpg|''[[Magnolia hypoleuca]]''</br>[[Morton Arboretum]]</br>acc. 1286-56-1
Image:Magnolia seepod.jpg|An unripe ''Magnolia'' seedpod.
Image:Magnolia seeds.jpg|The seeds are exposed when the fruit splits open.
Image:Magnolia blossom.jpg|''Magnolia x soulangeana'' flower.
Image:Magnoliajane.jpg|''Magnolia'' 'Jane'
Image:Magnolie.jpg|Flower of a Magnolia Tree
Image:Magnolia8309.JPG|''Magnolia grandiflora'' (Southern magnolia) - a large tree at [[Hemingway, South Carolina]]
Image:Magnolia grandiflora flower.JPG|Flower of ''Magnolia grandiflora'' (Southern magnolia)
</gallery>
==References==
{{reflist}}
*Treseder, N.G. (1978). ''Magnolias''. London/Boston, Faber & Faber. ISBN 0-571-09619-0
*Callaway, D.J. (1994). ''The World of Magnolias''. Portland, Oregon, Timber Press. ISBN 0-88192-236-6
*Hunt, D. (ed). (1998). ''Magnolias and Their Allies''. International Dendrology Society & Magnolia Society. ISBN 0-9517234-8-0
*Law, Y.W. (= Liu, Y.H.) (2004). ''Magnolias of China''. Hong-Kong, Beijing Science & Technology Press. ISBN 7-5304-2765-2
==External links==
*[http://www.fna.org/china/mss/volume07/Magnoliaceae-CAS_coauthoring.htm Flora of China: Magnoliaceae (draft account)]
*[http://www.bgci.org/conservation/magnolia_threat Magnolias: 50% Face Extinction] from [[Botanic Gardens Conservation International]]
*[http://www.bgci.org/conservation/magnolia_threat Magnolias: Bloom or Doom? (Botanic Gardens Conservation International)]
*[http://www.magnoliasociety.org/ Magnolia Society]
*[http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=9453862 "Magnolias Threatened by Logging, Development"] from [[National Public Radio]]
*[http://www.urbanext.uiuc.edu/treeselector/search_results.cfm?q=magnolia Selecting Trees for your Home - Magnolia Trees] University of Illinois Extension
[[Category:Magnolias| ]]
[[Category:Horticulture]]
[[category:Living fossils]]
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