74. Cucumber Magnolia

Location: Just west of the Giant Sequoia on the north side of the Medicinal Garden across from Anderson Hall

Historical Background: While not susceptible to many diseases, this tree is not well acclimated for fires or frost. The species is not hugely important as a wildlife food source but is consumed by several birds and small mammals. It is also browsed by deer, and is valuable as a forest shade tree. Since colonization it has been used in a range of products from furniture and doors to trim and boxes, and is commonly used as a timber tree. It is generally sold under the name of Yellow Poplar, which is actually another magnolia species whose wood it resembles but which is actually less dense or strong than that of the Cucumber tree. It was also used by the Cherokee as a gastrointestinal disease aid, and by tribes of the Iroquois confederacy as a toothache remedy.

Non-Native

Native Range: A native of the eastern United States in Appalachia, from the Great Lakes south to Louisiana.

Identifying Features Light: The young seed clusters of this tree are said to appear similar to a cucumber, thus its curious name. A native of the south it is deciduous, with large broad leaves about 6-10 inches in length and as much as 5 inches wide. They are thin and a pale green, decomposing quickly after falling to the ground when winter sets in. The flowers are of course what the magnolia genus is known for. On this species they are about 2 inches long with 6 yellow-green petals oriented around 3 sepals. They are fragrant and give rise to pink to bright red erect fruit which drops in September.

Identifying Features In Depth:

1. Form: Grows to a height of 40 to 90 feet (25m) tall, with a straight trunk and pyramidal crown. It can reach a diameter of as much as 4 feet (1.2m) when fully mature.

2. Leaves: Leaves grow to a length of 6-10 inches, with a pointed apex and pinnate venation. They are about 3-5 inches wide and the margins are smooth. They are soft and the tops are generally a pale yellow green, the bottoms lighter.

3. Bark: On mature trees the bark is gray-brown and scaly in nature.

4. Reproductive Bodies: The flowers of this tree are spectacular, about 2 inches (9cm) in length, thin and curved upwards, they are composed of 6 petals around 3 sepals. They appear from April to July depending on location. The petals are a light greenish yellow in appearance and fragrant. In some rare varieties they are canary yellow or even orange in appearance. These flowers give rise to reddish brown hairless aggregate (clustered) fruit, 2-3 inches (8cm) in length and about an inch in diameter. These fruits are pink to red, falling to the ground in fall.