Magnolia
Johännah Larsen (2007)

Magnolia soulangiana

The Magnolia tree is a common ornamental broadleaf. Magnolias are popular in gardens around the Northwest. The specific species on Willamette’s campus is the Magnolia soulangiana, also called saucer magnolia, which is actually a hybrid between M. denudate by M. liliiflora and was created in France around 1826. The tree is named after Etienne Soulange-Bodin, a horticulturalist, who raised the original hybrid seedling. These trees like full sun or partial shade and can grow in a variety of soil qualities. There are several of these trees located around the Willamette campus. Magnolias can be found directly East of Eaton Hall, West of Lee Dormitory and northeast of Goudy Commons (tree tag #33). This species most easily identifiable in March when it is in bloom. Before the flowers bloom, the tree has many upright, conical buds that are an inch tall or longer. The buds have a very fuzzy outer coat. The blossoms are upright, similar to tulips, with a white interior and pink or purple coloring on the outside of the petals. As the flowers mature, the petals flatten out radially, giving the saucer magnolia its name. As the flowers fall away the fruit of the tree grows. It is a upright, olive-colored, fleshy stalk, about one or two inches tall. The stalk has many pointed bumps along its length and resembles a small pickle or saguaro cactus. The leaves of the saucer magnolia are large, flat and football-shaped.

The trunk of the magnolia is usually short or multi-stemmed, with smooth, grayish-brown bark. The back is usually very attractive to moss and lichens. The crown shape is a tall oval for younger trees but widens horizontally as the tree becomes mature. At full maturity, the tree can be about 25 wide and tall. Our Magnolias help provide habitat for small animals such as Gray squirrels and Western Scrub jays. Tree #33 is frequented by a Scrub Jay with red and silver bands. Magnolias area also popular with children, because the low primary branches and smooth bark make it very easy to climb.

http://www.oplin.org/tree/fact%20pages/magnolia_saucer/magnolia_saucer.html

http://oregonstate.edu/dept/ldplants/maso.htm

http://hcs.osu.edu/pocketgardener/source/description/ma_giana.html

http://www.paghat.com/tuliptree.html