Fraser magnolia facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Fraser magnolia |
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| From Curtis's Botanical Magazine; or Flower Garden Displayed (London, 1809, volume 30, plate 1206). Hand-colored engraving by Francis Sansom after Sydenham Teast Edwards. | |
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Magnolia
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fraseri
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The Magnolia fraseri, often called Fraser magnolia, is a type of magnolia tree. It's also known as mountain magnolia or earleaf cucumbertree. This tree grows naturally in the southeastern United States. You can find it in the southern Appalachian Mountains and nearby coastal areas. Its range stretches from West Virginia down to northern Florida and west to eastern Texas.
Scientists sometimes divide Fraser magnolias into two main kinds. One kind, Magnolia fraseri var. fraseri, grows in the Appalachian Mountains. The other, M. fraseri var. pyramidata, is found closer to the coast. Some people even think these two are completely different species!
Contents
What Does the Fraser Magnolia Look Like?
The Fraser magnolia is a small deciduous tree. This means it loses its leaves each year, usually in the fall. It can grow up to about 14 meters (40 feet) tall. Its bark is brown and has a bumpy or scaly feel.
Leaves and Flowers
The leaves of the Fraser magnolia are quite large. They can be 15 to 25 centimeters long, and sometimes even bigger! They are green on top and a cool blue-green underneath. A special feature of these leaves is that they have two small "ear-lobes" at their base.
This tree produces beautiful, showy white flowers. They are very large, about 16 to 25 centimeters across. These flowers usually open in late spring or early summer, after the leaves have appeared. They also have a pleasant smell.
Fruit and Seeds
After the flowers, the tree grows a woody, cone-like fruit. This fruit is oblong and about 6.5 to 12 centimeters long. It's covered in small, pod-like sections. Each section holds one or two red seeds. When the fruit is ripe, these red seeds hang out from the cone by a thin thread.
A good crop of seeds only happens about every four to five years. Wildlife often eats the fruit, which helps spread the seeds to new places.
Where Does It Grow?
The Fraser magnolia prefers to grow in rich, moist, and well-drained soil. It's a very attractive tree because of its big white flowers and large leaves. People sometimes plant it in their gardens as an ornamental plant. It can even grow in areas much farther north than its natural home if the conditions are right.
Varieties of Fraser Magnolia
There are two main types, or varieties, of Fraser magnolia:
- Magnolia fraseri var. fraseri: This variety is found in the Appalachian Mountains.
- Magnolia fraseri var. pyramidata (Bartram) Pampanini: This variety grows in the Coastal Plain. It is often called the Pyramid magnolia.
Another tree, the Bigleaf magnolia (Magnolia macrophylla), also has leaves with ear-shaped lobes.
Who Was John Fraser?
The Fraser magnolia is named after a Scottish botanist named John Fraser (1750–1811). He spent a lot of time collecting plants in the Appalachian Mountains.
Gallery
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M. fraseri in young forest, south of Spruce Knob, West Virginia, USA.
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M. fraseri flower and foliage. West slope of Spruce Mountain, West Virginia, USA.
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Magnolia fraseri flower bud and emerging leaves, Arnold Arboretum of Harvard University.
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Magnolia fraseri maturing fruit Arnold Arboretum of Harvard University.
See also
In Spanish: Magnolia fraseri para niños
