Magnolia L.

Barbosa, Juliana Cruz Jardim, Caruzo, Maria Beatriz Rossi, Simoes, Ana Rita G. & Samain, Marie-Stephanie, 2024, Taxonomic revision of the native Magnolia (Magnoliaceae) species of Brazil, PhytoKeys 238, pp. 33-64 : 33

Magnolia L.

Type.

Magnolia virginiana L.

Description.

Trees or shrubs, evergreen or deciduous, branches lenticulate with internodes marked by annular scars, stipules free or, in Neotropical species ( Magnolia sect. Talauma and Macrophylla ), attached to the petiole, leaving 2 parallel longitudinal scars after shedding. Flowers terminal, solitary, protected by 1-2 bracts (perula); sepals 3; petals 3-12(-15), fleshy, cream-colored; stamens 20-220; carpels few to numerous, free or, predominantly in South American species, coalescent; ovules 2-(5), pollen large,> 50 μm diameter, stamens deciduous during male phase (except sect. Magnolia Oyama ). Fruit apocarpic, multifollicular or, predominantly in South American species, syncarpous, woody, which breaks into irregular plates at dehiscence, exposing the seeds provided with reddish or orange sarcotesta, which are individually pendulous by a funiculus (Figs 1 - 4 ) ( Lozano-Contreras 1990; Figlar and Nooteboom 2004; Vázquez-García et al. 2016; Mello-Silva et al. 2023).

Distribution and habitat.

Magnolias tend to occur at higher altitudes, mostly in high and humid forests. Preference and resistance in environments with varying temperatures and precipitation depend on the species ( Song et al. 2019; Aldaba Núñez et al., unpublished data). Its distribution ranges from Eastern and South Asia to Malaysia, extending across the Neartics (Canada and USA) and reaching into the Neotropics ( Stevens 2001; Aldaba Núñez et al., unpublished data). In Brazil, it is found in North, Northeast, Central-West, Southeast and South regions, at elevations approximately ranging between 200 and 1400 m. It occurs in anthropized areas, riparian forest, 'terra firme’ forest, ‘várzea’ forest, and rainforest ( Rizzini 1979; Eiten 1983).

We here provide an identification key to distinguish all Brazilian Magnolias , including both native and cultivated species.

Figures

Figure 1. A branch with alternate leaves, present stipules, and terminal flower, v. detail of central vein, vb. detail of brochidodromous venation B detail of the branch showing scars C adnation of the stipule (which later falls) on the petiole, a characteristic of Magnolia section Talauma; ca. Annular scar; cp. Petiolar scar (resulting from stipule fall). Photos: A, v, vb, ca, cp: D. A. Zavatin; B-C: J. C. J. Barbosa.

Figure 4. Fruit stages A partially open syncarpous fruit B detail of the inner woody part of the fruit C 1 - 2 seeds per carpel D mature fruit, with open woody masses (seeds already fallen from the fruit) Photos: J. C. J Barbosa.