Magnolia virginiana

Swamp magnolia (Magnolia virginiana)

The Swamp magnolia (Magnolia virginiana ) is a plant of the genus Magnolia. It grows as a shrub or small to medium sized tree and is native to southeastern North America, where it is called (literally as " fragrance laurel " ) " sweetbay ". As the first Magnolia kind it was introduced to Europe in 1688 and is still occasionally cultivated as an ornamental tree.

Description

The Swamp magnolia grows in the north of their range as a multi-stemmed deciduous shrub with plant height of one to two meters, while further south remains evergreen, narrow tree- growing and reaches up to 28 meters Height. The smooth bark is dark gray, young twigs and buds are usually hairy soft.

The alternate, slightly leathery leaves are oberseits matt or glossy green above, whitish and sometimes hairy. The sheet size is quite variable and varies between six and 22 centimeters long and three to seven centimeters wide. The leaf shape is oblong -elliptic and tapering at both ends. The petiole is 1.5 inches long, it is Stipules present.

The flower buds are of two buds imbricate bracts includes, of which the outer is soft hairy. The five to eight inches wide flowers open over a longer period during the early summer and smell. You are at the end of the branches. The three outer tepals are greenish and bent back, the six to nine interior are cream-colored to white, at first cup-shaped closed and later horizontally projecting. Approximately 60 to 90 and 20 to 40 stamens stamp located in the center of the flower. The stamens are 0.5 to one centimeter long with white stamens. From the flower creates a pin-like inflorescence ( Sammelbalgfrucht, Follicetum ), ovate to rounded, three to five inches long and brown in color. The individual seeds are about five millimeters in size, the seed coat ( aril ) is colored red. At maturity they are hanging out by a thin thread from the follicle for a short time. Germination takes place until the following spring.

Distribution and location

This Magnolia species originates from the southeastern North America, along the Atlantic coast and the Gulf of Mexico. It is a plant of the coastal plain, it rarely rises higher than 100 meters, exceptionally up to 500 meters. Northward ranges the spread to Long Iceland, south to Florida and west to Texas. The Swamp Magnolia therefore has the widest distribution of all North American magnolias. Often it is in the states of Alabama, Georgia, Florida and South Carolina.

The sites where Magnolia virginiana growing, have year-round moist soils, the annual rainfall is 1200-1600 mm. However, it does not come, as the name suggests, in waterlogged swamps, but tolerates temporary flooding. The pH of the soil is populated in the acidic range.

Ecology

Often the swamp magnolia with the red maple, the sweet gum, Nyssa sylvatica, and with the oak species Quercus nigra and Quercus laurifolia is associated. The Evergreen magnolia has a substantially equal distribution area. In the undergrowth several Ilex species grow (Ilex opaca, Ilex cassine, Ilex coriacea, Ilex glabra), the shrubs Cornus stricta, Myrica cerifera, Itea virginica, Sorbus arbutifolia, Clethra alnifolia and bamboo Arundinaria tecta.

As the young plants of the swamp magnolia can grow well in partial shade and competition from other trees, it is kept as long term in closed forests. On the other hand, through mature trees, the effect of forest fires relatively good, even on seeds open areas are colonized quickly. Therefore, one finds the Swamp Magnolia in all stages of succession, though rarely as the dominant tree species.

The leaves are eaten by white-tailed deer and cows. The seeds are often eaten by gray squirrels, as well as the white-footed mouse ( Peromyscus leucopus ), the wild turkey, quail and other birds.

The flowers are mainly visited by beetles, which are responsible for pollination.

The leaves are often attacked by fungal diseases, such as Mycosphaerella milleri and M. glauca. The flowers are inhabited by the limited to the Swamp Magnolia fungus Sclerotinia gracilipes. Weakened trees are the habitat of the beetle Xyleborus affinis, which infects the wood with the fungus Cephalosporium pallidum.

Use

Due to the fragrant, large flowers the swamp magnolia is used as an ornamental tree. This southern provenances are indeed popular because of the upright stature and the evergreen leaves, but less hardy. The type is also available in Europe in nurseries in the United States are occasionally some varieties to see:

• ' Henry Hicks ' - evergreen, yet hardy, narrow, dense crown.
• ' Satellite' - evergreen, relatively frost-hardy, flowers large, cream-colored, very fragrant.

Hybrids with a number of other Magnolia species have been carried out:

• M. × thompsoniana ' Urbana ' - M. tripetala × M. virginiana, the first known magnolia hybrids, originated in England in 1808.
• ' Porcelain Dove ' - emerged from M. globosa × M virginiana.
• The so-called " Freeman hybrids ", hybrids of M. grandiflora × M. virginiana.
• ' Nimbus ' - M. hypoleuca × M. virginiana.

The aromatic wood is easy to work and is mainly used for the manufacture of furniture.

Of the Houma Indians use the leaves and branches is reported as a medicine, the Rappahannock Indians took advantage of leaves and bark as a drug.

System

Within the genus Magnolia, the Magnolia Marsh is classified in the subgenus Magnolia and there in the Magnolia section. Next relatives are a number of other North and Central American Magnolia species, such as the evergreen magnolia.

The name virginiana was given by Carolus Linnaeus, who described the plant in 1753. The name refers to the location on the east coast of North America, then known beyond the limits of today's state beyond " Virginia ". It is the type species of the genus Magnolia total.

Due to the different growth forms in the area of ​​distribution a subspecies or variety australis is often made, which includes the southern deposits with baumförmigem growth and evergreen leaves. However, there is a broad transition zone ( approximately from North Carolina to Florida located ), in which occurs a gradual transition from one form to another. A clear separation of two subspecies is not possible there.