Magnolia family illustrations, which ones do you see?

"The green branches are so strong that they attract the wind and grow long, breaking the fragrance of silver flowers and jade snow."

Recently, the news of Beijing magnolia flowers blooming has become a hot search

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It’s a good time to go out and enjoy the flowers in spring

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Magnolia family

Our four most common magnolia species

I believe that everyone has grown up

I have also seen many species of magnolia

Can you name them?

The legend about magnolia is full of traditional Chinese folk tales.

The story is about three sisters who lived in a deep mountain a long time ago. The eldest sister was called Hong Yulan, the second sister was called Bai Yulan, and the youngest sister was called Huang Yulan.

The Dragon King locked the salt warehouse and prevented the people of Zhangjiajie from eating salt, which eventually led to a plague.

The three sisters felt very sorry for them and decided to help them get salt. The villagers were saved, and later in memory of them, people called the local flower tree "magnolia".

What we usually call "magnolia" actually includes many different varieties. Many people think that various magnolias look similar and are difficult to distinguish. In fact, they can be distinguished based on plant type, perianth shape, color and flowering period.

1

Magnolia grandiflora

Magnolia grandiflora and Magnolia dahurica are most easily confused because their flowers look white from a distance. However, the difference between them is still very obvious:

First of all, the flowering period is different. Magnolia grandiflora can bloom about a week earlier than Magnolia dahurica, and the tree is usually covered with white flowers in early March. When Magnolia dahurica is in full bloom, Magnolia grandiflora has almost withered flowers and the tree is covered with new leaves.

Secondly, the size of the flowers is different. Many people like white magnolia because its flowers are free and unrestrained. The diameter of more than ten centimeters is really shocking. The Magnolia grandiflora is much smaller, with a diameter of only about 6-8 centimeters.

The top one is Magnolia grandiflora, the bottom one is Magnolia dahurica

Image source: Suzhou Garden official microblog

The number and color of petals of Magnolia grandiflora and Magnolia dasyphylla are also different. The scientific name of Magnolia's "petals" is tepals. Magnolia grandiflora has 9 petals. The 3 small petals in the outer circle are light pink and very small, and the length is at most one-third of the inner petals. The 6 petals in the two inner circles are light purple in the lower half and white in the upper half. Compared with the nine petals of Magnolia dasyphylla, it immediately looks much thinner.

The outer three tepals of Magnolia grandiflora have degenerated. Source: Green Shanghai

The outer side of the petals of Magnolia grandiflora has a hint of light purple, and some of the bases of the petals of Magnolia alba have a hint of light red, and some varieties are even pure white.

All petals of Magnolia are roughly the same length, and the outer petals have no degeneration phenomenon

Image source: Green Shanghai

2

Magnolia ovata and Magnolia odorata

The magnolia family is ranked in order of flowering period as follows: Magnolia grandiflora, Magnolia dahurica, Magnolia ovata, and Magnolia serrata.

Magnolia dahurica is a hybrid of Magnolia dahurica and Magnolia dahurica. Magnolia dahurica and Magnolia dahurica have similar flowering periods and are easily confused.

Picture above: Magnolia ovata has 6-9 tepals, and the outer 3 tepals are often shorter, about 1/2-2/3 the length of the inner tepals.

Image source: Green Shanghai

Below: Purple Magnolia has 9-12 tepals, with 3 outer tepals in the shape of sepals, purple-green

Image source: Suzhou Garden official microblog

The magnolias we usually see bloom first and then grow leaves.

Purple Magnolia is a little special in that it grows leaves first and then flowers, while Magnolia ovata grows flowers first and then leaves.

The flower of the purple magnolia has 6 purple petals and 3 yellow-green or purple sepals on the outside. The sepals are very small, only one-third the length of the inner petals, and they fall off quickly when the flower blooms, so you need to pay more attention to see them.

The two-story magnolia also has 9 petals, which are purple-red. The outer 3 petals are slightly shorter than the inner ones, about two-thirds as long, and the color is no different.

Their tree shapes are also different: Purple Magnolia is a shrub, while Magnolia grandiflora is a tree.

Among the above types of magnolia, only purple magnolia is a shrub.

Image source: Green Shanghai

Magnolia (tree) Source: Science Park

I know the four types of magnolias mentioned above.

While the spring is here

Flowers in full bloom

With family and friends

Go out to enjoy the flowers

Let's try to identify it this time.

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What kind of magnolia flowers do you see?

Source: Guangming.com, Museum, Beijing News

Compiled by: Dong Xiaoxian