southern magnolia

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• Big-laurel
• Bull-bay
• Evergreen Magnolia
• Southern Magnolia
• bull bay
• great flowered magnolia
• Southern Belle

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Magnolia grandiflora var. rotundifolia
• Magnolia lacunosa
• Magnolia longifolia
• Magnolia maxima
• Magnolia exoniensis
• Magnolia foetida f. margaretta
• Magnolia foetida f. parvifolia
• Magnolia gloriosa
• Magnolia grandiflora var. elliptica
• Magnolia grandiflora var. exoniensis
• Magnolia grandiflora f. galissoniensis
• Magnolia grandiflora var. lanceolata
• Magnolia grandiflora var. obovata
• Magnolia grandiflora var. ferruginea
• Magnolia grandiflora f. lanceolata
• Magnolia galissoniensis
• Magnolia glabra
• Magnolia lanceolata
• Magnolia foetida
• Magnolia elliptica
• Magnolia praecox
• Magnolia pravertiana
• Magnolia virginiana var. foetida
• Magnolia virginiana var. grisea
• Magnolia umbrella var. maxima
• Magnolia grandiflora var. angustifolia
• Magnolia grandiflora var. praecox
• Magnolia grandiflora var. elliptica
• Magnolia grandiflora var. obovata

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and is classified under the phylum Streptophyta and class Equisetopsida. Within the subclass Magnoliidae and order Magnoliales, it is a member of the family Magnoliaceae. Finally, it is specifically categorized under the genus Magnolia.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a remarkably wide geographical distribution across several distinct continents. In Europe, it can be found specifically within the regions of Italy. Its presence extends to the Indian Subcontinent, where it inhabits both Assam and the East Himalaya. Moving across the ocean, the species is established in the South-Central U.S.A., particularly in Texas. Finally, its range reaches the Southeastern U.S.A., including the state of Alabama.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Magnolia grandiflora is characterized by its ability to thrive across a specific altitudinal gradient, typically found within an elevational range spanning from 1500 m AMSL to a maximum of 2600 m AMSL. This species exhibits versatility in its preferred environments, commonly colonizing diverse habitats such as coastal shores and ornamental garden settings. Its presence in these distinct areas reflects an adaptability to varying moisture levels and soil compositions, ranging from the high-altitude environments to more stabilized, managed landscapes.

Elevational range max:

2600 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

1500 m AMSL

Habitat :

garden,shores

Life history

The life history of Magnolia grandiflora is characterized by its status as a perennial plant, ensuring its presence and stability within its ecosystem over many successive years. As a phanerophyte, it maintains its conductive organs well above the ground, typically developing into a large, woody tree structure that dominates its habitat. Furthermore, this species exhibits an evergreen deciduousness, meaning it retains its lush, leathery foliage throughout all seasons rather than shedding its leaves annually, allowing for continuous photosynthetic activity.

Deciduousness :

evergreen

Life form :

phanerophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Magnolia grandiflora is characterized by its robust, woody growth form, functioning as a large, self-supporting tree. It reaches a significant stature, with a mean plant height of approximately 29.495 meters. As a terrestrial organism, it is neither aquatic nor semiaquatic, and it does not exhibit any epiphytic behavior, remaining strictly terrestrial throughout its life cycle. The plant is entirely independent, showing no parasitic tendencies, and it maintains a stable, non-climbing structure as a self-supporting woody species.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

tree

Parasite :

independent

Plant height mean:

29.495 m

Woodiness :

woody

Physiology

The physiology of Magnolia grandiflora is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway, a common mechanism in woody perennials that allows for efficient carbon fixation under temperate to subtropical environmental conditions. The plant's vegetative vigor is reflected in its foliar morphology, where leaf dimensions vary significantly to optimize light interception and gas exchange. The leaves typically exhibit a minimum length of 10 cm and a mean length of 15 cm, reaching a maximum length of 20 cm. In terms of lateral expansion, the leaf width ranges from a minimum of 4 cm to a maximum of 7 cm, providing a substantial surface area for transpiration and metabolic processes.

Leaf length max:

20 cm

Leaf length mean:

15 cm

Leaf length min:

10 cm

Leaf width max:

7 cm

Leaf width min:

4 cm

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Reproduction

The reproduction of Magnolia grandiflora is characterized by a highly variable flowering period that can occur throughout the year, with significant activity noted starting in December. The plant produces impressively large flowers, which typically range in length from 15 cm to a maximum of 20 cm. Following pollination, the plant develops substantial fruit structures; these fruits generally exhibit a mean length of 8.5 cm (ranging from a minimum of 7 cm to a maximum of 10 cm) and a mean width of 4.5 cm (ranging from 4 cm to a maximum of 5 cm). The seeds produced are relatively small, with a mean mass of approximately 0.0769 g, though individual seed weights can vary from a minimum of 0.0165 g to a maximum of 0.11845 g. The dispersal of these seeds follows a zoochorous syndrome, relying on animal vectors to facilitate the movement and spread of the species.

Dispersal syndrome :

zoochorous

Flower length max:

20 cm

Flower length min:

15 cm

Flowering time :

Dec

Fruit length max:

10 cm

Fruit length mean:

8.5 cm

Fruit length min:

7 cm

Fruit width max:

5 cm

Fruit width mean:

4.5 cm

Fruit width min:

4 cm

Seed mass max:

0.11845 g

Seed mass mean:

0.0769426666666667 g

Seed mass min:

0.0165 g

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Magnolia grandiflora has 1 reported plant parts identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include leaf.

Leaf

1. Chinese journal of natural medicines
2. Journal of Asian natural products research

Chemicals

Magnolia grandiflora has 28 reported phytochemicals identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Honokiol, 4-O-Methylhonokiol, Costunolide, Magnolol, parthenolide.

Honokiol

1. Acta pharmacologica Sinica
2. Seminars in cancer biology
3. Biochemical pharmacology
4. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)
5. Biochimica et biophysica acta

4-O-Methylhonokiol

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)
2. Biochimica et biophysica acta

Costunolide

1. Planta medica
2. Journal of Asian natural products research

Magnolol

1. Biochemical pharmacology
2. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

parthenolide

1. Planta medica
2. Journal of Asian natural products research

(+)-Medioresinol

1. Journal of Asian natural products research

2alpha-hydroxy-dihydroparthenolide

1. Journal of Asian natural products research

6,7-DIMETHOXYCOUMARIN

1. Journal of Asian natural products research

ANTHOCYANIN

1. Chemistry & biodiversity

Anonaine

1. Natural product research

Activities

Magnolia grandiflora has 1 reported activities identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Anticancer.

Anticancer

1. Heliyon

Medicinal Uses

Magnolia grandiflora has 13 reported medicinal uses identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported uses include cancer, Alzheimer's disease, analgesic, angiogenesis, anti-inflammatory agents.

Most Reported Uses

Preparations