''Magnolia tripetala'', commonly called umbrella magnolia or simply umbrella-tree, is a
deciduous
In the fields of horticulture and botany, the term deciduous () means "falling off at maturity" and "tending to fall off", in reference to trees and shrubs that seasonally shed Leaf, leaves, usually in the autumn; to the shedding of petals, aft ...
tree
In botany, a tree is a perennial plant with an elongated stem, or trunk, usually supporting branches and leaves. In some usages, the definition of a tree may be narrower, e.g., including only woody plants with secondary growth, only ...
native to the eastern
United States
The United States of America (USA), also known as the United States (U.S.) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It is a federal republic of 50 U.S. state, states and a federal capital district, Washington, D.C. The 48 ...
in the
Appalachian Mountains
The Appalachian Mountains, often called the Appalachians, are a mountain range in eastern to northeastern North America. The term "Appalachian" refers to several different regions associated with the mountain range, and its surrounding terrain ...
, the
Ozarks
The Ozarks, also known as the Ozark Mountains, Ozark Highlands or Ozark Plateau, is a physiographic region in the U.S. states of Missouri, Arkansas, and Oklahoma, as well as a small area in the southeastern corner of Kansas. The Ozarks cover ...
, and the
Ouachita Mountains
The Ouachita Mountains (), simply referred to as the Ouachitas, are a mountain range in western Arkansas and southeastern Oklahoma. They are formed by a thick succession of highly deformed Paleozoic strata constituting the Ouachita Fold and Thru ...
. The name "umbrella tree" derives from the fact that the large leaves are clustered at the tips of the branches forming an
umbrella
An umbrella or parasol is a folding canopy supported by wooden or metal ribs that is mounted on a wooden, metal, or plastic pole. It is usually designed to protect a person against rain. The term ''umbrella'' is traditionally used when protec ...
-shaped structure.
Description
Umbrella magnolias have large shiny
leaves
A leaf (: leaves) is a principal appendage of the stem of a vascular plant, usually borne laterally above ground and specialized for photosynthesis. Leaves are collectively called foliage, as in "autumn foliage", while the leaves, stem, ...
natural
Nature is an inherent character or constitution, particularly of the ecosphere or the universe as a whole. In this general sense nature refers to the laws, elements and phenomena of the physical world, including life. Although humans are part ...
setting the umbrella magnolia can grow 15 m tall. The
flower
Flowers, also known as blooms and blossoms, are the reproductive structures of flowering plants ( angiosperms). Typically, they are structured in four circular levels, called whorls, around the end of a stalk. These whorls include: calyx, m ...
s are large, appear in the spring, malodorous, 15–25 cm diameter, with six to nine creamy-white
tepals
A tepal is one of the outer parts of a flower (collectively the perianth). The term is used when these parts cannot easily be classified as either sepals or petals. This may be because the parts of the perianth are undifferentiated (i.e. of ve ...
and a large red style, which later develops into a red
fruit
In botany, a fruit is the seed-bearing structure in flowering plants (angiosperms) that is formed from the ovary after flowering.
Fruits are the means by which angiosperms disseminate their seeds. Edible fruits in particular have long propaga ...
(an
aril
An aril (), also called arillus, is a specialized outgrowth from a seed that partly or completely covers the seed. An arillode, or false aril, is sometimes distinguished: whereas an aril grows from the attachment point of the seed to the ova ...
) 10 cm long, containing several red
seed
In botany, a seed is a plant structure containing an embryo and stored nutrients in a protective coat called a ''testa''. More generally, the term "seed" means anything that can be Sowing, sown, which may include seed and husk or tuber. Seeds ...
s. These trees are attractive and easy to grow. The leaves turn
yellow
Yellow is the color between green and orange on the spectrum of light. It is evoked by light with a dominant wavelength of roughly 575585 nm. It is a primary color in subtractive color systems, used in painting or color printing. In t ...
in the autumn. The leaves are clustered at the tip of the stem with very short internodes. The tree has reddish cone-shaped fruit, is shade tolerant, has shallow spreading roots, and is pollinated by beetles.
Leaves on ''M. tripetala'' trees are alternate, simple, and oblong. They are a dark green on top and pale green underneath the leaves. These leaves are clustered at the ends of branches, giving them the appearance of an umbrella. The leaves and arrangement resemble their relative '' M. macrophylla''. These trees are naturally in rich and moist woods, along slopes, streams and ravines. The bark is thin and gray, mostly smooth and can have raised lenticels. Trees typically grow from single stems, though multiple stems are not uncommon. The flowers on ''M. tripetala'' have been described to have unpleasant smells but are not toxic to organisms. These trees grow at a moderate rate during the spring season.
Taxonomy
The name ''M. tripetala'' was originally described by Linnaeus in his ''
Systema Naturae
' (originally in Latin written ' with the Orthographic ligature, ligature æ) is one of the major works of the Sweden, Swedish botanist, zoologist and physician Carl Linnaeus (1707–1778) and introduced the Linnaean taxonomy. Although the syste ...
'' in 1759. It is most commonly known as the umbrella magnolia or the umbrella tree. Tripetala comes from Latin and means "three petals". This naming convention was used for the three petal-like sepals of the tree's flowers. ''Magnolia tripetala'' is the accepted name of the species but has gone through multiple authors naming the species differently. Synonyms for ''M. tripetala'' include ''Kobus tripetala, Magnolia frondosa, Magnolia umbrella, Magnolia virginiana var. tripetala,'' and ''Magnolia umbrella var. tripetala''.
Distribution and habitat
Umbrella magnolias have a native range from New York state to southern Florida. This range also expands as far west as Arkansas and parts of Oklahoma. It is located in deciduous forests of the Appalachian Mountains. Research has shown the species to be non-native to northern states such as Pennsylvania, and only being a recent arrival. This species has been cultivated in locations outsides its natural range, and has spread from these locations to nearby woodlands. ''Magnolia tripetala'' has been observed in forests outside its native range in multiple instances. Single individuals and small populations have been observed near areas where ''M. tripetala'' is in cultivation. ''Magnolia tripetala'' has been given the FACU wetland status, tending to prefer average to dry soil. The trees have low tolerance to drought and fire.
Reproduction
''Magnolia tripetala'' in cultivation can produce low viability pollen (9.4-31.7%). Actual seed productivity of the ''M. tripetala'' is less than their potential productivity. However, ''M. tripetala'' are characterized by a high seed germination rates, up to 94%. Optimal seed germination conditions for ''M. tripetala'' are protected ground or a greenhouse and stratification at 4 °C for 30 days.
Notable trees
The largest known ''Magnolia tripetala'' is 15.2 m in height with a trunk diameter of 87 cm in
Bucks County, Pennsylvania
Bucks County is a County (United States), county in the Commonwealth (U.S. state), Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. As of the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, the population was 646,538, making it the List of counties in Pennsylvania, four ...
.
Uses
''Magnolia tripetala'' contains a substance called
ethyl acetate
Ethyl acetate commonly abbreviated EtOAc, ETAC or EA) is the organic compound with the formula , simplified to . This flammable, colorless liquid has a characteristic sweet smell (similar to pear drops) and is used in glues, nail polish removers, ...
in its branches, and this substance displays nematicidal activity. This activity allows it to specifically resist ''
Bursaphelenchus xylophilus
''Bursaphelenchus xylophilus'', commonly known as pine wood nematode or pine wilt nematode (PWN), is a species of nematode that infects trees in the ''Pinus'' genus of coniferous trees and causes the disease pine wilt.Panagrellus redivivus'', and ''
Caenorhabditis elegans
''Caenorhabditis elegans'' () is a free-living transparent nematode about 1 mm in length that lives in temperate soil environments. It is the type species of its genus. The name is a Hybrid word, blend of the Greek ''caeno-'' (recent), ''r ...
''.
''Magnolia tripetala'' has been used as a parent with '' Magnolia obovata'' (Japanese cucumber tree), resulting in the hybrid ''Magnolia x pruhoniciana'', an ornamental plant. The species is named for the park for which it was first discovered, Prühonice Park in the Czech Republic. The hybrid has resulted in multiple hybrid variants, including the named 'Silk Road' and 'Silver Parasol' cultivars. The variants are described to be deciduous, medium trees with elliptic to ovate leaves. The leaves are 20-45cm by 10-22cm and the flowers are white, 16-25cm across at the end of branches. The cultivars have fruits with features such as number of follicles or stamen scars that are intermediate between the parent species.
Umbrella magnolia leaves are eaten by a variety of animals. They often grow under the canopy of larger trees and support biodiversity in forested areas. These trees are notably used as specimen trees for their unique foliage. ''Magnolia tripetala'' is used as an ornamental in urban areas and used as focal trees in the garden setting.
Gallery
File:Magnolia Tripetala Seedling.webp, Seedling
File:Magnolia Tripetala fruit1.jpg, Immature fruit and leaf details
File:Tree of Magnolia tripetala.jpg, Tree
File:Magnolia Tripetala fruit.jpg, Immature fruit
File:Magnolia tripetala fruit 2.jpg, Nearly mature fruit
File:Magnolia tripetala fruit.jpg, Mature fruit with seeds
Diseases
Umbrella magnolias are victim to pests such as magnolia scales or yellow poplar weevils. Magnolia scales infest and slowly kill branches of many trees, including species of magnolias. Yellow poplar weevils infest the leaves of magnolias and can cause mortality.
Conservation
''Magnolia tripetala'' has a secure conservation status across multiple states in most of its native range. However there are multiple states where the tree is considered critically imperiled or exotic. Many states within the native range of ''M. tripetala'' have not assessed its endangerment status. States where there is no status ranking (SNR/SU/SNA) for ''M. tripetala'' include Missouri, Arkansas, Tennessee, Alabama, Georgia, South Carolina, Massachusetts, and Connecticut. States where the tree is considered secure (S5) include North Carolina, Virginia, West Virginia, and Kentucky. ''Magnolia tripetala'' is critically imperiled (S1) in Oklahoma, Mississippi, Florida, and Indiana. Global status for ''M. tripetala'' is secure (G5) as of 1991. Global status is in need of review. Efforts to conserve ''M. tripetala'' have been taken by local and state-wide ecological groups and are still being recommended. As the tree grows on steep slopes, the trees and soil are subject to damage due to human traffic in its native range. ''Ailanthus altissima'' has been described as a competitor to ''M. tripetala'' and has been removed from its habitat to better support ''M. tripetala'' persistence.
Ecology
''Magnolia tripetala'' most commonly lives in slope forests on north-facing slopes. The tree has been seen to grow along streambanks as well as in many ravines. Beetles are the primary pollinators of ''M. tripetala'' and birds and squirrels disperse seeds. Beetles enter buds of the flowers to feed on pollen and move this pollen from male parts of the flower to female parts. The male reproductive parts of the flower mature first. These trees are slow to spread but seedlings are resilient. Flowers bloom in the spring while seeds mature and spread throughout the summer.