Monday

Re: Monday

Dale Lenz

Kant tell quit from the pic, but is that the tree that a movie was named after a few years ago called: Southern M---...?

Clarification

Gary Smyth

The tree name is common. The species I'm looking for is less so. Also, the tree is Eastern South but can be found as far North as Southern Ohio, West in Arkansas, and does not grow well in Florida. It rarely grows above 50 feet high.

U R good so far

Re: Monday

John Veerkamp

That's a grand flower in that picture.

Not that one.  Not compact

Re: Not that one.  Not compact

John Veerkamp

Not having rain protection stinks.

Not sure.  I could

Gary Smyth

make a case for your reply. Plenty of time has expired. Shout out your answer.

Re: Monday

Joe W Detroit, MI

I'm not very good at guessing trees, but the leaves look a little like a Magnolia. The flowers on the tree at our house had pink on them though.

The tree is indeed a magnolia but

Gary Smyth

what is the feature that makes it unique?

Gary...

Dale Lenz

Are you asking about John, Paul, George and Ringo and something about reproduction?

Re: Monday answer

Gary Smyth

Bigleaf Magnolia

(Magnolia macrophylla)

I'm giving today's star to Dale. See below.

The Bigleaf Magnolia is a medium-size deciduous tree notable for its very large leaves and flowers. In fact it has the largest undivided leaf of all North American trees. (Think palms as a divided leaf). The giant leaves can grow up to 30 inches long and the flowers can be a foot wide. Such large sizes definitely make an impact, and a mature specimen is sure to command attention.

Surprisingly, the tree itself doesn't get especially big, usually no more than 50 feet tall. Most plants have a thick trunk and a rounded crown of stout branches. The fragrant flowers, which appear in late spring or early summer, have six white petals surrounding a yellow and purple center. Unfortunately they are often partly hidden in the foliage and thus hard to see from ground level. The fruit is a cone-shaped pod containing large red or scarlet seeds.

The large leaves and blossoms are an indication that this is a primitive species. In fact the magnolias are among the oldest of all surviving tree families. Their blossoms, unlike those of more recently-evolved trees, are pollinated by beetles, (good one Dale) which pre-date bees and butterflies. A strong fragrance helps attract the beetles.

The Bigleaf Magnolia is found from southern Ohio south to the Gulf Coast, but isn't common anywhere. In cultivation it has proven to be hardy in much of the north. It is somewhat shade-tolerant, but can also grow in full sunlight. It needs a moist loamy soil and can suffer during droughts.

I almost missed it.  Yes.

Re: Monday answer

Joe W Detroit, MI

Wow. Never seen one like that. Definitely a lot bigger than the one we had outside of Detroit.

Re: Monday answer

Ken Oakley-Sunny St. Cloud, Fla

Doesn't look ahything like the ones here in Florida, either.