MOUNTAIN MAGNOLIA
Magnolia Fraseri, Walt.
Form.—Height, 30-50 feet, diameter 12-18 inches; trunk straight or inclining, undivided for half its length, or separating near the ground into several stems.
Leaves.—Alternate, simple, oblong-obovate or spatulate, eared at the base, bluntly pointed at the apex, glabrous 10-24 inches long, often crowded in whorls.
Flowers.—May; perfect, solitary, 8-10 inches in diameter, creamy white, sweet-scented.
Fruit.—Matures in early autumn; an oblong cone-like aggregate of fleshy, rose-colored follicles, with sharp-pointed tips; seeds obovoid, compressed, ⅝ inch long.
Bark.—Smooth, or on old trunks roughened by irregular excrescences or scales, dark brown.
Wood.—Light, soft, not strong, close-grained, brown with light sapwood.
Range.—West Virginia to northern Georgia and Alabama, west to northern Mississippi and eastern Tennessee.
Distribution in West Virginia.—Infrequent, found scattered through the mountainous parts of Clay, Nicholas, Pocahontas, Randolph, Upshur and Webster counties; growing at 3,500 feet elevation on the head of Cherry River.
Habitat.—Borders of streams and rich mountain-sides.
Notes.—Like the Umbrella Tree this species is of little value for forestry purposes, but is highly ornamental. Its chief distinguishing mark in summer is the leaf base which is prominently eared.