Bigleaf magnolia
Bigleaf magnolia (Magnolia macrophylla), also known as cowcumber tree, silverleaf magnolia, large leaved umbrella tree, large-leaf magnolia, great-leaved cucumber tree, great-leaved magnolia, Oowah tree or cucumber-tree, is a large deciduous magnolia tree native to parts of the deep South, especially west Alabama and southern Mississippi, but which is cultivated as an ornamental across the Southern United States. It is noted for its exceptionally-large leaves (up to 30" long) and flowers (as much as 12" across).
The tree, with a thick, smooth trunk and a pyramidal or rounded crown up to 50 feet tall, spreads its shallow roots in shaded mesic (moist) forest soils. With its enormous leaves, it has adapted well to compete for sunlight in thick canopies and deep canyons. The trees are often widely spaced, relying on animals to distribute seeds from its large cone-shaped red fruits. The flowers, often tucked high in the crown, are strongly scented to attract beetle pollinators in late spring.
The moderately-thin oblong-obovate leaves are the largest of any indigenous tree in North America. The undersides of the leaves bear a fine silver hair while the tops are dark, glossy green through summer and then fade to yellow-brown, littering the forest floor in autumn. Bigleaf magnolias require moist, loamy soil. In areas subject to strong winds, the leaves are easily torn. It is otherwise a hardy plant, not seriously threatened by disease or insects.
References
- "Magnolia macrophylla" (July 17, 2013) Wikipedia - accessed November 4, 2013