Magnolia virginiana, most commonly known as听sweetbay magnolia, or merely听sweetbay听(also laurel magnolia, swampbay, swamp magnolia, white bay, or beaver tree),听is a member of the听听family,听. It was the first magnolia to be scientifically described under modern rules of botanical听, and is the听听of the genus听Magnolia; as听Magnolia听is also the听听of all听听(magnoliophytes), this species in a sense typifies all flowering plants.
TAXONOMY
Magnolia virginiana听was one of the many species described by听.
DESCRIPTION
Magnolia virginiana听is an听听or听听听to 30听m (100听ft) tall, native to the lowlands and swamps of the Atlantic coastal plain of the eastern听, from听听to听,听. Whether it is deciduous or evergreen depends on climate; it is evergreen in areas with milder winters in the south of its range (zone 7 southward), and is semi-evergreen or deciduous further north. The leaves are alternate, simple (not lobed or pinnate), with entire margins, 6鈥�12听cm long, and 3鈥�5听cm wide. The bark is smooth and gray, with the inner bark mildly scented, the scent reminiscent of the听听spice.
The flowers are creamy white, 8鈥�14听cm diameter, with 6-15 petal-like听. The flowers carry a very strong vanilla scent that can sometimes be noticed several hundred yards away. The fruit is a fused aggregate of follicles, 3鈥�5听cm long, pinkish-red when mature, with the follicles splitting open to release the 1听cm long seeds. The听听are black but covered by a thinly fleshy red coat, which is attractive to some听-eating听; these swallow the seeds, digest the red coating, and disperse the seeds in their droppings.