Magnolia macclurei

Names and Synonyms

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Magnolia multitepala
• Michelia macclurei
• Michelia macclurei var. sublanea
• Michelia multitepala

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta, falling under the class Equisetopsida and subclass Magnoliidae. It is classified within the order Magnoliales and the family Magnoliaceae. Ultimately, Magnolia maccluerei is identified by its genus, Magnolia.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a specific geographical range concentrated within East and Southeast Asia. In China, its presence is notable across the South-Central regions. It can also be found growing in the southeastern parts of the country. Furthermore, the species is distributed across the tropical island of Hainan. Beyond Chinese borders, its habitat extends into the Indo-China region, specifically within Vietnam.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Magnolia maccluerei is characterized by its specific distribution within montane environments, where it occupies a distinct altitudinal niche. This species is primarily found within an elevational range that spans from a minimum of 500 m AMSL to a maximum of 1000 m AMSL. Throughout its natural habitat, the plant maintains an average elevation of approximately 750 m AMSL, suggesting a preference for mid-altitude forest ecosystems where environmental conditions such as temperature and moisture are optimized for its growth and medicinal potency.

Elevational range max:

1000 m AMSL

Elevational range mean:

750 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

500 m AMSL

Life history

The life history of Magnolia maccluerei is characterized by its status as a perennial organism, meaning it persists through multiple growing seasons to complete its reproductive cycles. Structurally, the species is classified as a phanerophyte, a life form in which the stem or shoot system is elevated above the ground level, allowing the plant to maintain its vegetative structures and buds safely above the soil surface. This phanerophyte growth habit ensures its long-term establishment within its ecological niche, supporting a stable and enduring presence throughout its extended lifespan.

Life form :

phanerophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Magnolia macclurei is characterized by its stature as a large, woody tree that can reach a significant plant height with a mean of approximately 30 m. As a self-supporting organism, it does not function as a climber or liana, instead maintaining its own structural integrity through a robust, woody growth form. The plant is strictly terrestrial in its ecological habit, functioning as an independent species rather than an epiphyte or a parasite.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

tree

Parasite :

independent

Plant height mean:

30 m

Woodiness :

woody

Physiology

The physiology of Magnolia maccluerei is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway, which dictates its metabolic carbon fixation processes. The plant's vegetative structure is supported by a stem with a mean specific density (SSD) of 646 mg/cm³, reflecting its internal structural composition. Its foliage exhibits significant morphological variation, with leaf dimensions ranging from a minimum length of 7 cm to a maximum length of 14 cm, resulting in a mean leaf length of 10.5 cm. Furthermore, the leaf width varies between a minimum of 5 cm and a maximum of 7 cm, contributing to the overall canopy architecture and gas exchange surface area.

Leaf length max:

14 cm

Leaf length mean:

10.5 cm

Leaf length min:

7 cm

Leaf width max:

7 cm

Leaf width min:

5 cm

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Stem specific density (SSD) mean:

646 mg/cm³

Reproduction

The reproduction of Magnolia maccluerei is characterized by the development of specialized fruit structures and specific seed metrics. The plant produces fruits that exhibit significant morphological variation in size, with lengths ranging from a minimum of 3 cm to a maximum of 7 cm, resulting in an average fruit length of approximately 5 cm. Following the maturation of these fruits, the seeds are released, displaying a highly consistent mass. The seed mass is uniform across the observed samples, with a mean, minimum, and maximum value all recorded at 0.0465 g, indicating a very stable reproductive output in terms of individual seed weight.

Fruit length max:

7 cm

Fruit length mean:

5 cm

Fruit length min:

3 cm

Seed mass mean:

0.0465 g

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Magnolia macclurei has 3 reported plant parts identified across 4 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include leaf, fruit, root.

Leaf

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)
2. Journal of the science of food and agriculture

Fruit

1. Journal of the science of food and agriculture

Root

1. Journal of the science of food and agriculture

Chemicals

Magnolia macclurei has 5 reported phytochemicals identified across 4 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Flavonoids, Globulol, Lignans, Nerolidyl acetate, Sesquiterpenes.

Flavonoids

1. Journal of the science of food and agriculture

Globulol

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

Lignans

1. Journal of the science of food and agriculture

Nerolidyl acetate

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

Sesquiterpenes

1. Journal of the science of food and agriculture

Activities

Magnolia macclurei has 1 reported activities identified across 4 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antioxidant.

Antioxidant

1. Journal of the science of food and agriculture

Preparations