Magnoliaceae

Plant Sex: Flowers bisexual.

Flowers: Actinomorphic, numerous spirally arranged parts on a conical receptacle. Stamens laminar. Gynoecium apocarpous.

Inflorescence: Flowers solitary.

Fruits: Follicles (from one carpel, dehiscing on 1 side). Seeds surrounded by fleshy ARIL suspended by a thread-like funiculus (Magnolia). Fruit in Liriodendron an aggregate of samaras.

Habit: Trees and shrubs with ethereal oils (aromatic terpenoids).

Leaves: Alternate, simple, stipulate.

Examples:

Magnolia X soulangeana (saucer magnolia)

Magnolia stellata (star magnolia)

Magnolia grandiflora (southern magnolia)

flower
fruit showing arilate seeds hanging on thin funiculi.
young infructescence.

Magnolia sieboldii

flower of this beautiful species!

Magnolia macrophylla

One of the largest flowers in the family!

Magnolia virginiana (sweet bay)

flowering shoot
flower
flower L.S.
infructescences - aggregates of follicles.

Liriodendron tulipifera (tulip poplar)

flowering branch
flower
branch with young infructescence - an aggregate of samaras.

Magnoliaceae - Figure 9.7 from Judd et al. (2008)

SIUC / College of Science / Elements of Plant Systematics
URL: http://www.plantbiology.siu.edu/PLB304/Lecture12Magnol/Magnoliaceae.html
Last updated: 26-Feb-08 / dln