Category: Plant Information

What’s Blooming? Magnolias

February 04, 2012

What's Blooming

Plant Information

By Frank McDonough, Arboretum Botanical Information Consultant

Magnolia flowers, some perfumed, some relaxed and spreading, others slender and pointed or even globular burst forth from the barren limbs after shedding their bristly flower caps (called "perules"). They are the largest single flowers outside the tropics. The Arboretum collection contains over 60 different types of magnolias, with over 40 of them being represented in the Meadowbrook section.

Although they may appear contemporary, with a look that could be at home in front of an open ceiling mid-century modern style house, these plants have an ancient lineage. Among the first true flowering plants, magnolia fossils over 100 million years old have been found; they came to dominate the pre-ice age landscape across the world from 65 to 1 million years ago. After the glaciers finally receded, the once great forests of magnolias were gone, except for the few temperate areas of the world, like parts of China and North America, that escaped glacial ravaging. Magnolias are pollinated by beetles, common insects of the time.

The species that were the starting material for the modern deciduous flowering magnolias came from China. In cultivation there for over 1400 years, monks would collect specimens of Magnolia denudata from the local mountains and transplant them on the temple grounds where they represented the female yin and principles of candor and purity. But it wasn't just the magnolia's beauty that interested the Chinese; magnolia species like M. officinalis and M. denudata were used medicinally as well. Recent research has shown that magnolias are extremely useful medicinally. M. officinalis, called "Hou-phu" by the Chinese, is used for coughs, colds and as a tonic. In a recent experiment published in the Journal of Pharmacology, Honokiol, a compound found in the bark extract of M. officinalis was determined to be five times as potent and much less addictive than Valium for relieving anxiety. Interestingly, a man who probably could have used such a tranquilizer was responsible for the next step in mankind's relationship with this beautiful and useful flowering tree.

In the early 19th century, Chevalier Etienne Soulange-Bodin, a disgruntled cavalry officer, treated himself for post traumatic stress by losing himself in the world of plants and gardening. Disgusted with the Napoleonic wars in which he fought (and of which he wrote "It had doubtless been better for both parties to have stayed at home and planted their cabbages"), he founded the Royal Institute of Horticulture at Fromont near Paris. It was Soulange-Bodin who developed the first Magnolia x soulangiana hybrids by carefully transferring pollen from Magnolia liliiflora to the the female flower parts of Magnolia denudata. The hybrid plants that resulted from these crossings sported impressive tulip-like blooms in shades ranging from white, to pink and even darker colors approaching purple. From 1830 on Soulange-Bodin's hybrids became immensely popular in Great Britain, a popularity that has yet to wane and has encouraged other efforts at hybridization.

One of those programs was undertaken at the U.S. National Arboretum in Washington D.C. Started by staff geneticist Francis de Vos and continued by horticulturalist William Kosar, their efforts to cross certain varieties of Magnolia liliiflora and Magnolia stellata resulted in a series of eight hybrids that were nicknamed by staff as the "Little Girl Magnolias." Another ambitious hybridization program was started in Santa Cruz by Magnolia Society founder D. Todd Gresham. Wanting to produce distinctly "Californian" hybrids, he began his efforts with three hybrids chosen for their ability to flower early and their extremes in color and hardiness. From 1955 to 1966 Gresham was able to perform over 300 crosses, resulting in over a thousand hybrid magnolia seedlings, including one growing here at the Arboretum, Magnolia 'Royal Crown'.

Now let's take a tour and look at some of the beautiful magnolias blooming at the Arboretum:

Magnolia liliiflora 'Nigra'; M. liliiflora is known as "Mulan" in China and is one of the parents of Magnolia x soulangiana.

Magnolia 'Royal Crown', one of D. Todd Gresham's original crosses, is a hybrid between Magnolia liliiflora and M. x veitchii (M. x veitchii is a cross between M. campbellii and
M. denudata that was first performed by Peter Veitch of the Royal Nursery at Exeter in 1907).

Magnolia 'Royal Crown'

Magnolia 'Galaxy' is a cross between M. liliiflora and M. sprengeri that was introduced by the U.S. National Arboretum in the early 1980s. (it was released in 1980). It has a unique pyramid shape to the tree itself and large red-purple flowers that can get as wdie as 8-to-10 inches.

Magnolia x soulangiana 'Rustica Rubra', a seedling of Magnolia x soulangiana that appeared in Holland at the turn of the 20th century.

Magnolia x soulangiana 'Rustica Rubra' is a seedling of Magnolia x soulangiana, 'Lennei' that was developed in 1893 in Boskoop, Holland.

Magnolia x soulangiana

Magnolia x loebneri 'Merrill'
Magnolia x loebneri 'Merrill' These magnolias are the result of crossing Magnolia kobus with Magnolia stellata.

Magnolia x soulangiana 'Lilliputian' has beautiful pink flowers on a plant that is 35% smaller than most hybrid magnolias.

Magnolia x soulangiana 'Picture' was found in 1930 growing on the grounds of the Kaga castle in Japan by nurseeryman Koichiro Wada.

Magnolia denudata is known as the "Yulan" or "lily tree" in China where it was venerated as a representation of purity and openness. This species and M. liliiflora are the parents of the M. x soulangiana cross.

Other Flowering Magnolias in Our Collection:

Magnolia ‘Ann’ (Magnolia kobus var. stellata x M. liliiflora ’Nigra’) is one of the de Vos and Kosar “Little Girl Magnolia” hybrids from the U.S. National Arboretum. Its red-purple, 2-to-4-inch flowers are some of the first to bloom here at the L.A. County Arboretum & Botanic Garden.

Magnolia 'Athene' was developed at the Tikorangi Garden in New Zealand by Felix Jury. It is a mid-season bloomer.

Magnolia x brooklynensis 'Woodsman' is a cross between M. acuminata ‘Klassen’ x M. liliiflora ‘O’Neill’. The flower has a combination of yellow, green and purple in tepal.

Magnolia x brooklynensis 'Yellow Bird' is, like its name implies, a yellow-flowering magnolia with blooms measuring about three inches across.

Magnolia campbellii is pink-flowering species native to Southwest China, East Asia and parts of the Himalayas. It was first collected in Sikkim by Sir Joseph Hooker in 1885.

Magnolia cylindrica is a species found on Mount Huangshan north of Nanchang, China.

Magnolia 'Jane' (Magnolia liliifora ‘Reflorescens’ x M. stellata ‘Waterlily’)
One of the de Vos and Kosar “Little Girl Magnolia” hybrids. Fragrant, late-blooming flowers are red-purple on the outside, white on the inside.

Magnolia'Spectrum' (M. liliiflora 'Nigra' x M. sprengeri 'Diva') developed from the same cross made in 1963 at the U.S. National Arboretum that 'Galaxy' was produced from; its fragrant flowers are narrower and more upright than 'Galaxy'.

Magnolia x loebneri 'Ballerina' is a cross between Magnolia kobus and Magnolia stellata; this hybrid has the star-shaped flowers of M. stellata and the fragrance of M. kobus.

Magnolia x loebneri 'Leonard Messel' is a cross between Magnolia kobus and Magnolia stellata with star-shaped flowers.

Magnolia 'Pinkie' (Magnolia liliifora ‘Reflorescens’ x M. stellata ‘Rosea’) opens into pale pink flowers with broad, thick tepals. It has a long flowering period and is one of the most distinctive of the “Little Girl Magnolia” hybrids. The flowers are white inside and pale red-purple outside.

Magnolia 'Randy' (Magnolia liliifora ‘Nigra’ x M. stellata ‘Rosea’) is one of the
“Little Girl Magnolias” (the de Vos and Kosar hybrids); flowers appear mid to late season and are up to five inches wide. Its sickle-shaped buds open up into blooms that are about 5 inches wide, red-purple on the outside fading on the inside in to a rich pink.

Magnolia 'Susan' (Magnolia liliifora ‘Nigra’ x M. stellata ‘Rosea’) (de Vos and Kosar “Little Girl Magnolias”) has pink, straplike tepals.

Magnolia salicifolia is a Japanese native first found on Honshu Island on the slopes of Mt. Hakkoda between 2,000-3,000 feet above sn ea level. The small, floppy, white flowers are fragrant and the leaves produce a lemony, anise-like fragrance when crushed. Magnolia salicifolia cultivars in our collection include Magnolia salicifolia 'Miss Jack' and Magnolia salicifolia 'W. B. Clark'.

Magnolia schiedeana is a threatened, evergreen cloud forest (between 4,600-7,200 feet) species from Mexico. Its flowers are near perfect, have no nectar and open in the morning. They are pollinated by Cyclocephala jalapensis, a scarab beetle. Its flowers are females in the morning emitting a scent that attracts beetles to feed on the tree's fleshy petals. Later on in the afternoon the anthers emerge from the flowers to offer the beetles another treat they find irresistible: the plant's pollen.

Magnolia x soulangiana 'Alexandrina' is a cultivar that originated in Paris, France in 1831.

Magnolia x soulangiana 'Amabilis' is a cultivar that originated in France in the 1850's.

Magnolia x soulangiana 'Grace McDade' was developed by Clint McDade of Semmes Nursery in Semmes, Alabama in 1945. It has beautiful, large pink flowers.

Magnolia x soulangiana 'Lennei' was developed in Italy around 1830; it is named after the superintendent of the Prussian Royal Garden developed by Peter Lenne. It has large, globose petals that are white on the inside and pink on the outside.

Magnolia x soulangiana 'Speciosa' is a late blooming M. x soulangiana that is shorter than most of the other crosses. It originated in France or Belgium in the 1830's.

Magnolia x soulangiana 'Verbanica' is a late blooming, narrow petaled pink M. x soulangiana that is late blooming.

Magnolia stellata (actually Magnolia kobus var. stellata ) is a natural variety of Magnolia kobus endemic to the Mie, Gifu and Aichi prefectures of central Honshu, Japan where it grows on sunny slopes in damp, swampy soil. Its star-like, small, white flowers earn it its name.

Magnolia stellata 'Royal Star' (actually Magnolia kobus var. stellata cv. 'Royal Star' ) is a seedling selection of M. stellata that originated at the J.Vermeulen and Sons nursery in New Jersey. It is larger than its parent Magnolia stellata and is pink, not white.

Magnolia x veitchii is a cross between Magnolia campbellii and Magnolia denudata made in 1907 by Peter Veitch of the Royal Nurseries in Exeter, England. It is a vigorous bloomer with pear-shaped, salmon-pink flowers.

Click here for a map of all the flowering magnolias located in the south Meadowbrook area that you can send to your GPS equipped smart phone and use to find the varieties mentioned in this article.

For those who are inspired by the beauty of these magnolias, the following list of books and references on magnolias are available at the Arboretum:

Asiatic Magnolias in Cultivation. With a foreword by the D. Bowes-Lyon.
      Author: Johnstone, George Horace.
      Call Number: QK495 .M24 J72a
      Publisher: London, The Royal Horticultural Society, 1955.

Checklist of the Cultivated Magnolias / prepared by The American Horticultural Society;with the cooperation of The American Magnolia Society.
      Call Number: SB413 .M19 A512c
      Publisher: Mt. Vernon, Va. : American Horticultural Society, 1975.

Magnolias / James M. Gardiner ; [illustration, David Ashby].
      Author: Gardiner, James M. (James Milton), 1946-
      Call Number: SB413 .M19 G222m
      Publisher: Chester, Conn. : Globe Pequot Press, 1989.

Magnolias / Neil G. Treseder.
      Author: Treseder, Neil G.
      Call Number: SB413 .M19 T797m
      Publisher: London ; Boston : Faber & Faber published in collaboration with the Royal Horticultural Society, 1978.

Magnolias : A Gardener's Guide / Jim Gardiner.
      Author: Gardiner, James M. (James Milton), 1946-
      Call Number: SB413 .M19 G222m 2000
      Publisher: Portland, Or. : Timber Press, c2000.

Magnolias, by J.G. Millais ... with illustrations by R. Millais and from photographs.
      Author: Millais, John Guille, 1865-1931.
      Call Number: QK495 .M24 M645m
      Publisher: London, New York [etc.] Longmans, Green and Co., 1927.

The World of Magnolias / Dorothy J. Callaway.
      Author: Callaway, Dorothy J. (Dorothy Johnson)
      Call Number: SB413 .M19 C156w
      Publisher: Portland, Or. : Timber Press, c1994.

Magnolia Checklist Online: http://www.magnoliasociety.org/checklist_ndx.html

What’s Blooming? South African Aloes

January 12, 2012

What's Blooming

News Items

Plant Information

Amateur Botanist Confuses Most Amateurs

The Los Angeles County Arboretum and Botanic Garden’s collection of 106 different Aloe taxa represents over ¼ of the world’s 365 species, and almost ½ of the 125 aloe species endemic to the region with the most Aloe species of any region in the world, South Africa. Up until 1950, no comprehensive work on South African aloes had been published. It was then that Gilbert Westacott Reynolds published The Aloes of South Africa. In this rather comprehensive guide, Reynolds did a thorough job of describing the South African Aloe species and documenting some of their ethnobotanical uses. Unfortunately his key, the part of his book that is supposed to help you identify the different types of aloes, is esoteric and somewhat confusing. Most amateur botanists would have a tough time following it; ironic considering Reynolds himself was an amateur botanist.

Wyk & Smith Clean Up the Confusion

Fortunately for the legions of plant fanciers that collect, breed, and field identify South African Aloes, the Guide to the Aloes of South Africa by Ben-Erik van Wyk & Gideon Smith is comprehensive and highly usable. Wyk & Smith abandoned Reynolds clumsy key for a simplified one that groups Aloes into ten easily understood types. This simple key coupled with excellent photographic illustrations of the 125 South African species makes Guide to the Aloes of South Africa, a very easy to use plant manuel.

You Can Distinguish the 10 Aloe Types Yourself at the Aboretum

The best way to see the different types of aloes as described by Wyke & Smith is to travel the Aloe Walk here at the Arboretum and view examples of the ten different classifications as described by them. Below is a map with "pins" showing the locations of examples of Wyk & Smith’s types. The image of Google map shows the location of aloes available at the Arboretum that exemplify the Wyk & Smith classification.

Map to Different Aloe Species

The Aloe Walk is located catty-corner from the Peacock Cafe.

Knowing The South African Aloes

Imagery courtesy of Google Earth.

Key to Map List

A. Single stemmed aloe type (A. marlothii)

B. Spotted aloe type (A. fosteri)

C. Spotted aloe type (A. verdoorniae)

E. Spotted aloe type (A. transvalensis)

F. Speckled aloe type (A. gariepensis)

G. Tree aloe type (A. bainesii)

H. Grass aloe type (A. thomposoniae)

J. Rambling aloe type (A. ciliaris)

K. Creeping aloe type (A. distans)

L. M. Dwarf aloe type (A. brevifolia)

M. Single stemmed aloe type (Aloe speciosa)

N. Single stemmed aloe type (A. ferox & A. marlothii)

Not pictured on map; creeping aloe type (A. distans)

Aloe brevifolia

Aloe brevifolia just north of Bauer Lawn.

The following describes and lists the 10 different types based on Wyk & Smith classification system, and lists aloe species available at the Arboretum that exemplify each type.

Dwarf Aloes
Small aloes that do not have grass-like leaves They are usually found in clusters with more than one stem.
Aloe brevifolia
Aloe humilis
Aloe brevifolia 'Variegata'

Grass aloe type, Aloe thompsoniae

Grass Aloes
These aloes have grassy, only slightly succulent leaves and are stemless; the flowers are always single stemmed.
Aloe thompsoniae
Aloe ecklonis
Aloe minima

Multi Stemmed Aloe: A. arborescens

Aloe arborescens, a multi-stemmed aloe type at sunset.

Multi-Stemmed Aloes
These are shrubby aloes that have multiple stems close to the ground.
Aloe castanea
Aloe falcata
Aloe mutabilis
Aloe vanbalenii
Aloe arborescens

Aloe ciliaris -a rambling aloe

Aloe ciliaris, a rambling aloe type

Rambling Aloes
These aloes can be quite bushy and can climb on rocks, trees, and shrubs.
Aloe tenuior
Aloe ciliaris

Single stemmed aloes: A. ferox(left), A. speciosa(middle), and A. Marlothii(right)

Single-stemmed aloes: A. ferox(left), A. speciosa(middle), and A. marlothii(right)

Single-Stemmed Aloes
These aloes have one main stem, some growing as tall as 27 feet (Aloe rupestris)
Aloe marlothii var. marlothii
Aloe ferox
Aloe vryheidensis
Aloe thraskii
Aloe excelsa
Aloe littoralis
Aloe marlothii
Aloe speciosa
Aloe africana
Aloe alooides
Aloe spectabilis
Aloe pluridens

Aloe transvaalensis

Aloe transvalensis, a spotted aloe type. Notice the elongated spots on the leaves.

Spotted Aloes
Spotted aloes differ from speckled aloes in that their spots are always oblong and their flower tubes are inflated near their base. They are also mostly stemless or have very short stems.

Aloe burgersfortensis
Aloe affinis
Aloe affinis hybrid
Aloe branddraaiensis

Aloe parvibracteata

Aloe vogtsii
Aloe verdoorniae
Aloe immaculata
Aloe transvalensis
Aloe lettyae
Aloe pruinosa
Aloe mutans
Aloe grandidentata

Aloe gariepensis, a speckled aloe type.

Speckled Aloes
These are aloes with noticeable markings that do not fit into the category of ‘spotted’ aloes. They usually have a small stem, and the markings can be small, distinctly round spots or sometimes streaks. The flowers of speckled aloes are not inflated at the base as are the spotted aloes.
Aloe framesii
Aloe khamiesensis
Aloe pictifolia
Aloe gariepensis
Aloe microstigma

Aloe cryptopoda

Aloe cryptopoda, a stemless aloe type.

Stemless Aloes
These aloes form rosettes and have no stems. They are mostly single rosettes but some species can form clusters.
Aloe striata
Aloe petricola
Aloe krapohliana
Aloe buhrii
Aloe chabaudii
Aloe cryptopoda
Aloe aculeata
Aloe peglerae

Aloe bainesii

Aloe bainesii, a tree aloe type (right) and Aloe ferox, a single-stemmed aloe type (left). Notice A. bainesii does not have a skirt of dead leaves like A. ferox.

Tree Aloes
The big difference between these and large single stemmed aloes is the branching structure of the main stem and the lack of dead leaves. Tree aloes usually shed their dead leaves.
Aloe plicatilis
Aloe bainesii
Aloe dichotoma

Aloe distans a creeping aloe; this one hasn't fallen over yet.

Creeping Aloes

These aloes grow to a foot or two in heigth and then topple to the ground where they continue growing; thus appearing to 'creep' along the ground.

Aloe distans. A specimen can be found just north of the A. ciliaris pictured on the map.

To delve into the fascinating world of aloes, please visit the Arboretum's library and check out the following publications:

1. Aloe Publisher: [Pretoria] : South African Aloe and Succulent Society

Call Number: Periodical

2. Aloe juddii, a new species from the Western Cape, and a A. gracilis var. decumbens raised to species level / Ernst J. van Jaarsveld.

Author: van Jaarsveld, Ernst J.

Aloe, v. 45, no. 1 (2008), p. 4-10.

3. Aloe vera / Carol Miller Kent Publisher: Arlington, Va. : Kent, c1979.

Author: Kent, Carol Miller.

Call Number: RS165 .A48 K37a

4. Les Aloes de Madagascar : revision / G.W. Reynolds.

Publisher: Tananarive : Institut de Recherche scientifique de Madagascar, 1958.

Call Number: QK495 .L72 R49 1958

5. The Aloes of South Africa.

Author: Reynolds, Gilbert Westacott.

Publisher: Cape Town, Balkema (A.A.), 1969.

Call Number: QK495 .L72 R462as 1969

6. The Aloes of South Africa / by Gilbert Westacott Reynolds.

Publisher: Rotterdam : A.A. Balkema, 1982.

Call Number: QK495 .L72 R462as 1982

7. The Aloes of tropical Africa and Madagascar / by Gilbert Westacott Reynolds.

Publisher: Mbabane, Swaziland : The Trustees, The Aloes Book Fund, 1966.

Call Number: QK495 .L72 R462At 1966

8. Documented utility and biocultural value of Aloe L. (Asphodelaceae) : a review / Olwen M. Grace, [et al].

Author: Grace, Olwen M.

Economic botany, v. 63, no. 2 (June 2009), p. 167-178.

9. Flora of southern Africa : which deals with the territories of the Republic of South Africa, Basutoland, Swaziland and South West Africa.

Publisher: [Pretoria, Republic of South Africa, Dept. of Agricultural Technical Services] 1963-<2005 >

Call Number: QK394 .F632f

10. Grass aloes in the South African veld / Charles Craib ; paintings by Gillian Condy ; drawings by Murray Ralfe.

Publisher: Hatfield, South Africa : Umdaus Press, 2005.

Call Number: QK495 .A835 C73 2005

11. Guide to the aloes of South Africa / Ben-Erik Van Wyk, Gideon Smith.

Publisher: Pretoria, South Africa : Briza Publications, 1996.

Call Number: QK495 .L72 V35 1996

12. Guide to the aloes of South Africa / Ben-Erik Van Wyk, Gideon Smith.

Publisher: Pretoria, South Africa : Briza Publications, 2003.

Call Number: QK495 .L72 V35 2003

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