Magnolia grandiflora L.
Vernacular name: Southern Magnolia, Bull Bay (Hindi: सदर्न मैग्नोलिया)
Species Name: Magnolia grandiflora L.
Family: Magnoliaceae
Habit: Evergreen tree
Stem: Straight trunk 15–30 m tall; bark grey-brown, smooth to slightly fissured; crown dense and pyramidal.
Leaf: Alternate, simple, elliptic-oblong 10–25 × 5–12 cm, thick and leathery, glossy dark green above, rusty-brown tomentose beneath.
Flowering: Late spring–summer.
Flowers: Solitary, terminal, very large and fragrant; 6–12 creamy-white tepals (8–20 cm across), numerous spirally arranged stamens, multicarpellary gynoecium on an elongated receptacle.
Fruit: Ovoid-conical woody aggregate 7–10 cm long; follicles dehiscent, releasing bright red arillate seeds.
Uses:
- Ornamental avenue and garden tree valued for its large fragrant flowers and glossy foliage
- Flowers are sometimes used in floral decorations.
- The wood is used locally for furniture, veneer, boxes, and interior finishing.
- Leaves, bark, and flowers have minor traditional medicinal uses, though the species is primarily cultivated as an ornamental.
