MAGNOLIACEAE The Magnolia Family

 
 

The Magnoliaceae are characterized by:


 

  • sheathing stipules that abscise and leave a ring-like scar on the stem.
  • perianth parts all similar in color and texture (tepals)

  • laminar stamens

  • aggregate fruits on an elongated receptacle, usually of either follicles or samaras

                                                                                       CLICK for a more detailed character description.

The Magnoliaceae is a small family, but many species are extensively planted as ornamentals.  Best known are the Magnolia sp. and the tulip tree, Liriodendron.  Some are also used for lumber.  They have traditionally been considered as a prototypical "primitive" angiosperm, being woody and having many spirally arranged parts (tepals, stamens, carpels).  Now there is some disagreement, however, about whether or not these characteristics are "primitive."

 

 

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 Site created and maintained by Matthew Willmann and Melissa Luckow Cornell University, Ithaca, New York September 1998