Magnoliaceae (PDF)

MAGNOLIACEAE 

木兰科 mu lan ke 

Xia Nianhe (夏念和) 1 , Liu Yuhu (刘玉壶 Law Yu-wu) 1 ; Hans P. Nooteboom 2 

Trees or shrubs, evergreen or deciduous, usually with perfect flowers, rarely dioecious, monoecious, or andro-dioecious, usually 

with trichomes or rarely glabrous. Vegetative buds enclosed by hooded stipules. Stipules 2, connate and adnate to or free from 

petiole, splitting and caducous but with a remaining annular scar on twig or if adnate to petiole with scar on petiole. Leaves simple, 

spirally arranged, rarely distichous, sometimes fascicled on twig apex and becoming pseudoverticillate, petiolate; leaf blade pinnately 

veined, margin entire or rarely lobed. Flowers terminal or terminal on axillary brachyblasts, solitary, large, insect pollinated. Spathaceous 

bracts 1 to several, basal to tepals. Tepals 6–9(–45), in 2 to many whorls, 3(–6) per whorl, usually fleshy, sometimes outer ones 

(perules) nearly leathery or reduced and sepal-like. Carpels and stamens many, distinct, spirally arranged on an elongated torus. 

Androecium usually at basal part of torus; filaments thick and short, sometimes elongated; connective usually exserted and forming a 

long or short tip; anthers linear, with 2 thecae, introrsely, laterally, or rarely extrorsely longitudinally dehiscing. Gynoecium at apical 

part of torus, sessile or with a gynophore; carpels folded, usually distinct, sometimes connate at base or rarely completely connate; 

ovules 2–14 per carpel, in 2 series on ventral sutures. Fruit apocarpous or sometimes syncarpous; mature carpels usually dehiscing 

along dorsal and/or ventral sutures, rarely connate and irregularly dehiscing or (in Liriodendron) indehiscent, samaroid, and adnate to 

seed endotesta. Seeds 1–12 per fruiting carpel, pendulous on a filiform elastic funiculus, exserted from mature carpels; testa fleshy, 

red; endotesta bony; embryo minute; endosperm copious, oily. 

Seventeen or two genera and ca. 300 species: mainly in SE Asia and Central America, E and S North America, including Mexico and Antilles, 

and N South America; 13 (one introduced) or two genera and 112 or 108 species including two to eight hybrid species (66 or 62 endemic, four introduced) 

in China. 

Several species in the Magnolioideae are grown for their dried flower buds, known as xinyi (辛夷), which are used medicinally. In addition, 

Houpoëa officinalis (Magnolia officinalis) is extensively grown for its medicinal bark. All species in the family are ornamental, and many are grown 

in public and private gardens throughout much of China and in other parts of the world. 

One of the co-authors (Nooteboom) considers the Magnoliaceae to include two monogeneric subfamilies, with Magnolioideae containing the 

genus Magnolia and Liriodendroideae containing the genus Liriodendron. The reduction of the former genera of Magnolioideae to a single genus is 

based on DNA analysis (S. Kim et al., Amer. J. Bot. 88: 717–728. 2001; H. Azuma et al., J. Plant Res. 112: 291–306. 1999; H. Azuma et al., Proc. Int. 

Symp. Fam. Magnoliac. 1988, 219–227. 2000; H. Azuma et al., Amer. J. Bot. 88: 2275–2285. 2001; W. S. Judd et al., Pl. Syst. Phylogenet. Approach, 

222–224. 1999) and morphology (R. B. Figlar, Proc. Int. Symp. Fam. Magnoliac. 1988, 14–25. 2000; R. B. Figlar & H. P. Nooteboom, Blumea 49: 

87–100. 2004). In the present treatment, not only are previously recognized genera still included but additional new and/or reinstated segregate genera 

of Magnolioideae are recognized. 

Nooteboom observes problems in the present treatment of segregate genera. An example of morphological similarity, which is strengthened by 

DNA results, is the similar fruit of Michelia species and Yulania (Magnolia) stellata. The present treatment distinguishes Michelia and Yulania on the 

basis of pseudoaxillary flowers in Michelia, but Y. stellata also has pseudoaxillary flowers. Furthermore, the emphasis given to fruit characters in order 

to separate genera is inconsistent, which renders the key to genera unworkable for specimens that lack fruit. Michelia (Magnolia) baillonii has fruit 

with connate carpels and is regarded as a Michelia species, although, even with fruit, it cannot be determined to Michelia and instead keys out as 

Talauma. The same character, fruit with connate carpels, is used to distinguish T. (Magnolia) hodgsonii from Lirianthe, even though, in the absence of 

fruit, it can hardly or not at all be distinguished from L. (Magnolia) henryi. 

The following checklist is provided for the benefit of those who prefer to recognize Magnolioideae to include only the genus Magnolia. All the 

names in Magnolioideae accepted in the present treatment (in italics) are cross-referenced to the corresponding names in Magnolia (in boldface), with 

the latter followed by full bibliographic references. Except for treating Magnolioideae as monogeneric, the taxonomy at the specific and infraspecific 

levels in this checklist differs from the following main text of this treatment only in that one co-author (Nooteboom) considers that Magnolia fordiana 

var. calcarea, M. fordiana var. forrestii, M. figo var. crassipes, and M. figo var. skinneriana should be recognized rather than be treated as species. 

Alcimandra cathcartii = Magnolia cathcartii 

Lirianthe henryi = Magnolia henryi 

Houpoëa obovata = Magnolia obovata 

Lirianthe odoratissima = Magnolia odoratissima 

Houpoëa officinalis = Magnolia officinalis 

Magnolia ×alba (Candolle) Figlar, Proc. Int. Symp. Fam. Magnoliac. 

Houpoëa rostrata = Magnolia rostrata 

1998, 21. 2000. 

Lirianthe albosericea = Magnolia albosericea 

Lirianthe championii = Magnolia championii 

Lirianthe coco = Magnolia coco 

Magnolia albosericea Chun & C. H. Tsoong, Acta Phytotax. Sin. 9: 

117. 1964. 

Magnolia amoena W. C. Cheng, Contr. Biol. Lab. Sci. Soc. China, Bot. 

Ser. 9: 280. 1934. 

Lirianthe delavayi = Magnolia delavayi 

Magnolia angustioblonga (Y. W. Law & Y. F. Wu) Figlar, Proc. Int. 

Lirianthe fistulosa = Magnolia fistulosa 

Symp. Fam. Magnoliac. 1998, 21. 2000. 

Lirianthe fujianensis = Magnolia xiana 

Magnolia aromatica (Dandy) V. S. Kumar, Kew Bull. 61: 183. 2006. 

1 

South China Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 723 Xingke Road, Tianhe District, Guangzhou 510650, People’s Republic of China. (Liu Yuhu died on 18 

May 2004.) 

2 

Nationaal Herbarium Nederland, Leiden University branch, P.O. Box 9514, 2300 RA Leiden, Netherlands. 

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Magnolia baillonii Pierre, Fl. Forest. Cochinch. 1: t. 2. 1880. 

Magnolia balansae Aug. Candolle, Bull. Herb. Boissier, sér. 2, 4: 294. 

1904. 

Magnolia biondii Pampanini, Nuovo Giorn. Bot. Ital., n.s., 17: 275. 

1910. 

Magnolia campbellii J. D. Hooker & Thomson, Fl. Ind. 1: 77. 1855. 

Magnolia cathcartii (J. D. Hooker & Thomson) Nooteboom, Blumea 

31: 88. 1985. 

Magnolia cavaleriei (Finet & Gagnepain) Figlar, Proc. Int. Symp. Fam. 

Magnoliac. 1998, 21. 2000. 

Magnolia cavaleriei var. cavaleriei 

Magnolia cavaleriei var. platypetala (Handel-Mazzetti) Nooteboom, 

comb. nov. Basionym: Michelia platypetala Handel-Mazzetti, 

Anz. Akad. Wiss. Wien, Math.-Naturwiss. Kl. 58: 89. 1921. 

Magnolia caveana (J. D. Hooker & Thomson) D. C. S. Raju & M. P. 

Nayar, Indian J. Bot. 3: 171. 1980. 

Magnolia champaca (Linnaeus) Baillon ex Pierre, Fl. Forest. 

Cochinch. 1: t. 3. 1880. 

Magnolia champaca var. champaca 

Magnolia champaca (Linnaeus) Baillon ex Pierre var. pubinervia 

(Blume) Figlar & Nooteboom, Blumea 49: 96. 2004. 

Magnolia championii Bentham, Fl. Hongk. 8. 1861 [“championi”]. 

Magnolia changhungtana Nooteboom, nom. nov. Replaced synonym: 

Manglietia pachyphylla Hung T. Chang, Acta Sci. Nat. Univ. 

Sunyatseni 1: 55. 1961, not Magnolia pachyphylla Dandy, Bull. 

Misc. Inform. Kew 1928: 186. 1928. 

Magnolia chapensis (Dandy) Sima, Yunnan Forest. Sci. Technol. 

2001(2): 29. 2001. 

Magnolia chevalieri (Dandy) V. S. Kumar, Kew Bull. 61: 183. 2006. 

Magnolia coco (Loureiro) Candolle, Syst. Nat. 1: 459. 1817. 

Magnolia compressa Maximovicz, Bull. Acad. Imp. Sci. Saint- 

Pétersbourg, Sér. 3, 17: 417. 1872. 

Magnolia conifera (Dandy) V. S. Kumar, Kew Bull. 61: 183. 2006. 

Magnolia coriacea (Hung T. Chang & B. L. Chen) Figlar, Proc. Int. 


Magnolia crassipes (Y. W. Law) V. S. Kumar, Kew Bull. 61: 184. 

2006. 

Magnolia cylindrica E. H. Wilson, J. Arnold Arbor. 8: 109. 1927. 

Magnolia dandyi Gagnepain, Notul. Syst. (Paris) 8: 63. 1939. 

Magnolia dawsoniana Rehder & E. H. Wilson in Sargent, Pl. Wilson. 

1: 397. 1913. 

Magnolia decidua (Q. Y. Zheng) V. S. Kumar, Kew Bull. 61: 184. 

2006. 

Magnolia delavayi Franchet, Pl. Delavay. 1: 33. 1889. 

Magnolia denudata Desrousseaux in Lamarck. Encycl. 3: 675. 1792. 

Magnolia doltsopa (Buchanan-Hamilton ex Candolle) Figlar, Proc. Int. 


Magnolia duclouxii (Finet & Gagnepain) Hu in Hu & Chun, Icon. Pl. 

Sin. 2: 18. 1929. 

Magnolia elegantifolia Nooteboom, nom. nov. Replaced synonym: 

Michelia elegans Y. W. Law & Y. F. Wu, Bull. Bot. Res., Harbin 

8(3): 71. 1988, not Magnolia elegans (Blume) H. Keng, Gard. 

Bull. Singapore 31: 129. 1978. 

Magnolia elliptigemmata C. L. Guo & L. L. Huang, J. Wuhan Bot. 

Res. 10: 325. 1992. 

MAGNOLIACEAE 

Magnolia ernestii Figlar, Proc. Int. Symp. Fam. Magnoliac. 1998, 21. 

2000. 

Magnolia ernestii subsp. ernestii 

Magnolia ernestii subsp. szechuanica (Dandy) Sima & Figlar, Yunnan 

Forest. Sci. Technol. 2001(2): 31. 2001. 

Magnolia figlarii V. S. Kumar, Kew Bull. 61: 184. 2006. 

Magnolia figo (Loureiro) Candolle, Syst. Nat. 1: 460. 1817. 

Magnolia figo var. figo 

Magnolia figo var. crassipes (Y. W. Law) Figlar & Nooteboom, 

Blumea 49: 96. 2004. 

Magnolia figo var. skinneriana (Dunn) Nooteboom, comb. et stat. 

nov. Basionym: Michelia skinneriana Dunn, J. Linn. Soc., Bot. 

38: 354. 1908. 

Magnolia fistulosa (Finet & Gagnepain) Dandy, Notes Roy. Bot. Gard. 

Edinburgh 16: 124. 1928. 

Magnolia flaviflora (Y. W. Law & Y. F. Wu) Figlar, Proc. Int. Symp. 

Fam. Magnoliac. 1998, 21. 2000. 

Magnolia floribunda (Finet & Gagnepain) Figlar, Proc. Int. Symp. 

Fam. Magnoliac. 1998, 21. 2000. 

Magnolia fordiana (Oliver) Hu, J. Arnold Arbor. 5: 228. 1924. 

Magnolia fordiana var. fordiana 

Magnolia fordiana var. calcarea (X. H. Song) V. S. Kumar, Kew Bull. 

61: 184. 2006. 

Magnolia fordiana var. forrestii (W. W. Smith ex Dandy) V. S. Kumar, 

Kew Bull. 61: 184. 2006. 

Magnolia fordiana var. hainanensis (Dandy) Nooteboom, comb. et 

stat. nov. Basionym: Manglietia hainanensis Dandy, J. Bot. 68: 

204. 1930. 

Magnolia foveolata (Merrill ex Dandy) Figlar, Proc. Int. Symp. Fam. 

Magnoliac. 1998, 21. 2000. 

Magnolia fujianensis (Q. F. Zheng) Figlar, Proc. Int. Symp. Fam. 

Magnoliac. 1998, 22. 2000. 

Magnolia fulva (Hung T. Chang & B. L. Chen) Figlar, Proc. Int. Symp. 

Fam. Magnoliac. 1998, 22. 2000. 

Magnolia garrettii (Craib) V. S. Kumar, Kew Bull. 61: 184. 2006. 

Magnolia gioi (A. Chevalier) Nooteboom, comb. nov. Basionym: 

Talauma gioi A. Chevalier, Bull. Écon. Indochine, n.s., 21: 790. 

1918. 

Magnolia glaucifolia (Y. W. Law & Y. F. Wu) Nooteboom, comb. nov. 

Basionym: Manglietia glaucifolia Y. W. Law & Y. F. Wu, Guihaia 

6: 263. 1986. 

Magnolia globosa J. D. Hooker & Thomson, Fl. Ind. 1: 77. 1855. 

Magnolia grandiflora Linnaeus, Syst. Nat., ed. 10, 2: 1802. 1759. 

Magnolia grandis (Hu & W. C. Cheng) V. S. Kumar, Kew Bull. 61: 

184. 2006. 

Magnolia guangdongensis (Y. H. Yan, Q. W. Zeng & F. W. Xing) 

Nooteboom, comb. nov. Basionym: Michelia guangdongensis Y. 

H. Yan, Q. W. Zeng & F. W. Xing, Ann. Bot. Fenn. 41: 491. 2004. 

Magnolia guangxiensis (Y. W. Law & R. Z. Zhou) Sima, Yunnan 


Magnolia henryi Dunn, J. Linn. Soc., Bot. 35: 484. 1903. 

Magnolia hodgsonii (J. D. Hooker & Thomson) H. Keng, Gard. Bull. 

Singapore 31: 129. 1976. 

Magnolia hongheensis (Y. M. Shui & W. H. Chen) V. S. Kumar, Kew 

Bull. 61: 184. 2006. 

Magnolia hookeri (Cubitt & W. W. Smith) D. C. S. Raju & M. P. 

Nayar, Indian J. Bot. 3: 171. 1980. 

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Magnolia insignis Wallich, Tent. Fl. Napal. 3. 1824. 

Magnolia iteophylla (C. Y. Wu ex Y. W. Law & Y. F. Wu) Nooteboom, 

comb. nov. Basionym: Michelia iteophylla C. Y. Wu ex Y. W. 

Law & Y. F. Wu, Acta Bot. Yunnan. 10: 337. 1988. 

Magnolia jigongshanensis T. B. Chao et al., J. Henan Univ., Nat. Sci. 

26: 62. 2000. 

Magnolia kachirachirai (Kanehira & Yamamoto) Dandy, Bull. Misc. 

Inform. Kew 1927: 264. 1927. 

Magnolia kisopa (Buchanan-Hamilton ex Candolle) Figlar, Proc. Int. 


Magnolia kwangsiensis Figlar & Nooteboom, Blumea 49: 96. 2004. 

Magnolia kwangtungensis Merrill, J. Arnold Arbor. 8: 5. 1927. 

Magnolia lacei (W. W. Smith) Figlar, Proc. Int. Symp. Fam. Magnoliac. 

1998, 22. 2000. 

Magnolia laevifolia (Y. W. Law & Y. F. Wu) Nooteboom, Blumea 52: 

562. 2007. 

Magnolia lanuginosa (Wallich) Figlar & Nooteboom, Blumea 49: 96. 

2004. 

Magnolia leveilleana (Dandy) Figlar, Proc. Int. Symp. Fam. 

Magnoliac. 1998, 22. 2000. 

Magnolia liliiflora Desrousseaux in Lamarck, Encycl. 3: 675. 1792. 

Magnolia longipedunculata (Q. W. Zeng & Y. W. Law) V. S. Kumar, 

Kew Bull. 61: 184. 2006. 

Magnolia lotungensis Chun & C. H. Tsoong, Acta Phytotax. Sin. 8: 

225. 1963. 

Magnolia lucida (B. L. Chen & S. C. Yang) V. S. Kumar, Kew Bull. 

61: 184. 2006. 

Magnolia macclurei (Dandy) Figlar, Proc. Int. Symp. Fam. Magnoliac. 

1998, 22. 2000. 

Magnolia martini H. Léveillé, Bull. Soc. Agric. Sarthe 39: 321. 1904. 

Magnolia masticata (Dandy) Figlar, Proc. Int. Symp. Fam. Magnoliac. 

1998, 23. 2000. 

Magnolia maudiae (Dunn) Figlar, Proc. Int. Symp. Fam. Magnoliac. 

1998, 23. 2000. 

Magnolia mediocris (Dandy) Figlar, Proc. Int. Symp. Fam. Magnoliac. 

1998, 23. 2000. 

Magnolia mirifolia (D. L. Fu, T. B. Chao & Zhi X. Chen) Nooteboom, 

comb. nov. Basionym: Yulania mirifolia D. L. Fu, T. B. Chao & 

Zhi X. Chen, Bull. Bot. Res., Harbin 24: 261. 2004. 

Magnolia multiflora M. C. Wang & C. L. Min, Acta Bot. Boreal.- 

Occid. Sin. 12: 85. 1992. 

Magnolia nitida W. W. Smith, Notes Roy. Bot. Gard. Edinburgh 12: 

212. 1920. 

Magnolia obovalifolia (C. Y. Wu & Y. W. Law) V. S. Kumar, Kew 

Bull. 61: 185. 2006 [“obovatifolia”]. 

Magnolia obovata Thunberg, Trans. Linn. Soc. London 2: 336. 1794. 

Magnolia odora (Chun) Figlar & Nooteboom, Blumea 49: 97. 2004. 

Magnolia odoratissima Y. W. Law & R. Z. Zhou, Bull. Bot. Res., 

Harbin 6(2): 139. 1986. 

Magnolia officinalis Rehder & E. H. Wilson in Sargent, Pl. Wilson. 1: 

391. 1913. 

Magnolia omeiensis (W. C. Cheng) Dandy in S. Nilsson, World Pollen 

Spore Fl. 3(Magnoliaceae): 5. 1974. 

Magnolia opipara (Hung T. Chang & B. L. Chen) Sima, Yunnan 


MAGNOLIACEAE 

Magnolia ovoidea (Hung T. Chang & B. L. Chen) V. S. Kumar, Kew 

Bull. 61: 185. 2006. 

Magnolia patungensis (Hu) Nooteboom, comb. nov. Basionym: 

Manglietia patungensis Hu, Acta Phytotax. Sin. 1: 335. 1951. 

Magnolia pilocarpa Z. Z. Zhao & Z. W. Xie, Acta Pharmacol. Sin. 22: 

777. 1987. 

Magnolia rostrata W. W. Smith, Notes Roy. Bot. Gard. Edinburgh 12: 

213. 1920. 

Magnolia rufibarbata (Dandy) V. S. Kumar, Kew Bull. 61: 185. 2006. 

Magnolia sargentiana Rehder & E. H. Wilson in Sargent, Pl. Wilson. 

1: 398. 1913. 

Magnolia shiluensis (Chun & Y. F. Wu) Figlar, Proc. Int. Symp. Fam. 

Magnoliac. 1998, 23. 2000. 

Magnolia sieboldii K. Koch, Hort. Dendrol. 4. 1853. 

Magnolia sinensis (Rehder & E. H. Wilson) Stapf, Bot. Mag. 149: t. 

9004. 1924. 

Magnolia sinica (Y. W. Law) Nooteboom, Blumea 31: 91. 1985. 

Magnolia ×soulangeana Soulange-Bodin, Mém. Soc. Linn. Paris 1826: 

269. 1826 [“soulangiana”]. 

Magnolia sphaerantha (C. Y. Wu ex Z. S. Yue) Sima, Yunnan Forest. 

Sci. Technol. 2001(2): 34. 2001. 

Magnolia sprengeri Pampanini, Nuovo Giorn. Bot. Ital., n.s., 22: 295. 

1915. 

Magnolia stellata Maximowicz, Bull. Acad. Imp. Sci. Saint- 

Pétersbourg, Sér. 3, 17: 418. 1872. 

Magnolia ventii (N. V. Tiep) V. S. Kumar, Kew Bull. 61: 185. 2006. 

Magnolia viridula (D. L. Fu, T. B. Chao & G. H. Tian) Nooteboom, 

comb. nov. Basionym: Yulania viridula D. L. Fu, T. B. Chao & G. 

H. Tian, Bull. Bot. Res., Harbin 24: 263. 2004. 

Magnolia wilsonii (Finet & Gagnepain) Rehder in Sargent, Pl. Wilson. 

1: 395. 1913. 

Magnolia xanthantha (C. Y. Wu ex Y. W. Law & Y. F. Wu) Figlar, 

Proc. Int. Symp. Fam. Magnoliac. 1998, 23. 2000. 

Magnolia xiana Nooteboom, nom. nov. [after N. H. Xia]. Replaced 

synonym: Magnolia fujianensis R. Z. Zhou, J. Trop. Subtrop. Bot. 

12: 473. 2004, not Magnolia fujianensis (Q. F. Zheng) Figlar, 

Proc. Int. Symp. Fam. Magnoliac. 1998, 22. 2000. 

Magnolia xinganensis Nooteboom, nom. nov. Replaced synonym: 

Manglietia oblonga Y. W. Law, R. Z. Zhou & X. S. Qin, Ann. Bot. 

Fenn. 43: 64. 2006, not Magnolia oblonga (Wallich ex J. D. 

Hooker & Thomson) Figlar, Proc. Int. Symp. Fam. Magnoliac. 

1998, 21. 2000. 

Magnolia yunnanensis (Hu) Nooteboom, Blumea 31: 88. 1985. 

Magnolia zenii W. C. Cheng, Contr. Biol. Lab. Sci. Soc. China, Bot. 

Ser. 8: 291. 1933. 

Magnolia zhengyiana (N. H. Xia) Nooteboom, comb. nov. Basionym: 

Manglietia zhengyiana N. H. Xia in C. Y. Wu, P. H. Raven & D. 

Y. Hong, Fl. China 7: 55. 2008. 

Manglietia aromatica = Magnolia aromatica 

Manglietia calcarea = Magnolia fordiana var. calcarea 

Manglietia caveana = Magnolia caveana 

Manglietia chevalieri = Magnolia chevalieri 

Manglietia conifera = Magnolia conifera 

Manglietia crassipes = Magnolia crassipes 

Manglietia dandyi = Magnolia dandyi 

Manglietia decidua = Magnolia decidua

Manglietia duclouxii = Magnolia duclouxii 

Manglietia fordiana = Magnolia fordiana 

Manglietia fordiana var. hainanensis = Magnolia fordiana var. 

hainanensis 

Manglietia forrestii = Magnolia fordiana var. forrestii 

Manglietia garrettii = Magnolia garrettii 

Manglietia glaucifolia = Magnolia glaucifolia 

Manglietia grandis = Magnolia grandis 

Manglietia hongheensis = Magnolia hongheensis 

Manglietia hookeri = Magnolia hookeri 

Manglietia insignis = Magnolia insignis 

Manglietia kwangtungensis = Magnolia kwangtungensis 

Manglietia longipedunculata = Magnolia longipedunculata 

Manglietia lucida = Magnolia lucida 

Manglietia oblonga = Magnolia xinganensis 

Manglietia obovalifolia = Magnolia obovalifolia 

Manglietia ovoidea = Magnolia ovoidea 

Manglietia pachyphylla = Magnolia changhungtana 

Manglietia patungensis = Magnolia patungensis 

Manglietia rufibarbata = Magnolia rufibarbata 

Manglietia szechuanica = Magnolia figlarii 

Manglietia ventii = Magnolia ventii 

Manglietia zhengyiana = Magnolia zhengyiana 

Michelia ×alba = Magnolia ×alba 

Michelia angustioblonga = Magnolia angustioblonga 

Michelia baillonii = Magnolia baillonii 

Michelia balansae = Magnolia balansae 

Michelia cavaleriei = Magnolia cavaleriei 

Michelia cavaleriei var. platypetala = Magnolia cavaleriei var. 

platypetala 

Michelia champaca = Magnolia champaca 

Michelia champaca var. pubinervia = Magnolia champaca var. 

pubinervia 

Michelia chapensis = Magnolia chapensis 

Michelia compressa = Magnolia compressa 

Michelia coriacea = Magnolia coriacea 

Michelia crassipes = Magnolia figo var. crassipes 

Michelia doltsopa = Magnolia doltsopa 

Michelia elegans = Magnolia elegantifolia 

Michelia figo = Magnolia figo 

Michelia flaviflora = Magnolia flaviflora 

Michelia floribunda = Magnolia floribunda 

Michelia foveolata = Magnolia foveolata 

Michelia fujianensis = Magnolia fujianensis 

Michelia fulva = Magnolia fulva 

Michelia gioi = Magnolia gioi 

Michelia guangdongensis = Magnolia guangdongensis 

Michelia guangxiensis = Magnolia guangxiensis 

Michelia iteophylla = Magnolia iteophylla 

Michelia kisopa = Magnolia kisopa 

MAGNOLIACEAE 

Michelia lacei = Magnolia lacei 

Michelia leveilleana = Magnolia leveilleana 

Michelia macclurei = Magnolia macclurei 

Michelia martini = Magnolia martini 

Michelia masticata = Magnolia masticata 

Michelia maudiae = Magnolia maudiae 

Michelia mediocris = Magnolia mediocris 

Michelia odora = Magnolia odora 

Michelia opipara = Magnolia opipara 

Michelia shiluensis = Magnolia shiluensis 

Michelia skinneriana = Magnolia figo var. skinneriana 

Michelia sphaerantha = Magnolia sphaerantha 

Michelia velutina = Magnolia lanuginosa 

Michelia wilsonii = Magnolia ernestii 

Michelia wilsonii subsp. szechuanica = Magnolia ernestii subsp. 

szechuanica 

Michelia xanthantha = Magnolia xanthantha 

Michelia yunnanensis = Magnolia laevifolia 

Oyama globosa = Magnolia globosa 

Oyama sieboldii = Magnolia sieboldii 

Oyama sinensis = Magnolia sinensis 

Oyama wilsonii = Magnolia wilsonii 

Pachylarnax sinica = Magnolia sinica 

Parakmeria kachirachirai = Magnolia kachirachirai 

Parakmeria lotungensis = Magnolia lotungensis 

Parakmeria nitida = Magnolia nitida 

Parakmeria omeiensis Cheng = Magnolia omeiensis 

Parakmeria yunnanensis Hu = Magnolia yunnanensis 

Talauma hodgsonii = Magnolia hodgsonii 

Woonyoungia septentrionalis = Magnolia kwangsiensis 

Yulania amoena = Magnolia amoena 

Yulania biondii = Magnolia biondii 

Yulania campbellii = Magnolia campbellii 

Yulania cylindrica = Magnolia cylindrica 

Yulania dawsoniana = Magnolia dawsoniana 

Yulania denudata = Magnolia denudata 

Yulania elliptigemmata = Magnolia elliptigemmata 

Yulania jigongshanensis = Magnolia jigongshanensis 

Yulania liliiflora = Magnolia liliiflora 

Yulania mirifolia = Magnolia mirifolia 

Yulania multiflora = Magnolia multiflora 

Yulania pilocarpa = Magnolia pilocarpa 

Yulania sargentiana = Magnolia sargentiana 

Yulania stellata = Magnolia stellata 

Yulania ×soulangeana = Magnolia ×soulangeana 

Yulania sprengeri = Magnolia sprengeri 

Yulania viridula = Magnolia viridula 

Yulania zenii = Magnolia zenii 

Law Yuwu. 1996. Magnoliaceae (excluding Illicieae and Schisandreae). In: Law Yuwu, ed., Fl. Reipubl. Popularis Sin. 30(1): 82–198, 270–271. 

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MAGNOLIACEAE 

1a. Leaf blade 4–10-lobed; anthers dehiscent extrorsely; mature carpels samaroid, indehiscent, deciduous, fruit axis 

persistent; testa thin and dry, adnate to endocarp (subfam. Liriodendroideae) ........................................................ 13. Liriodendron 

1b. Leaf blade unlobed or rarely 2-lobed at apex; anthers dehiscent introrsely or latrorsely; mature carpels not 

samaroid but in various shapes such as globose, ovoid, ellipsoid, or terete, usually twisted because of abortion 

of some carpels, dehiscent or circumscissile; testa fleshy, free from fruit segments (subfam. Magnolioideae). 

2a. Fruit cylindric or terete; torus elongated in fruit. 

3a. Flowers terminal on axillary brachyblasts .......................................................................................................... 12. Michelia 

3b. Flowers terminal. 

4a. Plants evergreen; perules absent; anthers dehiscing introrsely ............................................................... 10. Alcimandra 

4b. Plants deciduous; perules present; anthers dehiscing introrse-latrorsely ...................................................... 11. Yulania 

2b. Fruit globose, ovoid, or ellipsoid; torus not elongated in fruit. 

5a. Young leaves open in bud. 

6a. Mature carpels dehiscing along ventral sutures ....................................................................................... 8. Pachylarnax 

6b. Mature carpels dehiscing along dorsal sutures ......................................................................................... 9. Parakmeria 

5b. Young leaves folded in bud. 

7a. Mature carpels circumscissile ........................................................................................................................ 5. Talauma 

7b. Mature carpels dehiscing along ventral or dorsal sutures. 

8a. Flowers unisexual ............................................................................................................................ 7. Woonyoungia 

8b. Flowers bisexual. 

9a. Ovules 4 to many per carpel .......................................................................................................... 1. Manglietia 

9b. Ovules 2 per carpel. 

10a. Flowers terminal; peduncle slender; leaves distichously arranged ............................................ 6. Oyama 

10b. Flowers terminal on terminal brachyblasts; peduncle with internodes of brachyblasts; 

leaves spirally arranged, ± fascicled, or pseudowhorled. 

11a. Leaves pseudoverticillate .............................................................................................. 4. Houpoëa 

11b. Leaves spirally arranged or fascicled. 

12a. Fruit ovoid ............................................................................................................ 2. Magnolia 

12b. Fruit ellipsoid ....................................................................................................... 3. Lirianthe 

1. MANGLIETIA Blume, Verh. Batav. Genootsch. Kunst. 9: 149. 1823. 

木莲属 mu lian shu 

Paramanglietia Hu & W. C. Cheng; Sinomanglietia Z. X. Yu & Q. Y. Zheng. 

Trees, evergreen or rarely deciduous (only Manglietia decidua). Stipules adnate to petiole, leaving long or short scar on petiole. 

Leaves folded in bud; leaf blade leathery, margin entire. Flowers terminal or terminal on terminal brachyblasts, bisexual. Tepals usually 

9–13, 3 per whorl, greenish or red, subequal, subleathery but 3 of outer whorl usually thinner. Filaments short and inconspicuous; 

connective exserted and mucronate; anthers linear, dehiscing introrsely. Gynoecium sessile; carpels numerous, spirally 

arranged, distinct, abaxially usually with 1 or several furrows at base, adaxially completely connate to torus; ovules 4 or more per 

carpel. Fruit apocarpous, globose, ovoid, terete, or ellipsoid-ovoid; torus not elongated between carpels; mature carpels subwoody or 

thickly woody, persistent, dehiscing along dorsal suture or sometimes also along ventral suture, apex usually beaked. Seeds 1 to more 

than 10 per fruit. 

About 40 species: tropical and subtropical Asia; 29 or 27 species (17 or 15 endemic) in China. 

“Manglietia fadouensis Y. W. Law & R. Z. Zhou,” “M. guangnanica D. X. Li & R. Z. Zhou,” “M. pingjiangensis Y. W. Law & D. X. Li,” “M. 

microflora Y. W. Law & R. Z. Zhou,” and “M. tianchiensis D. X. Li & Y. W. Law” (in Y. H. Liu, Magnolias China, 136, 148, 186, 198. 2004) are of 

uncertain identity and are probably the same as already published Manglietia species but were not validly published because no Latin descriptions or 

diagnoses were provided and no types were indicated (Vienna Code, Art. 36.1 and 37.1). 

1a. Mature carpels dehiscing along ventral sutures; torus dehiscent when fruit matured. 

2a. Evergreen; tepals 9, in 3 whorls, white, outer ones obovate-elliptic, inner ones nearly obovate-spatulate ........... 20. M. calcarea 

2b. Deciduous; tepals 15 or 16, in 5 or 6 whorls, yellow, lanceolate to narrowly obovate ........................................... 29. M. decidua 

1b. Mature carpels dehiscing along dorsal sutures or rarely along ventral sutures; torus indehiscent when fruit matured. 

3a. Brachyblasts or peduncles slender; fruit pendulous. 

4a. Vegetative buds, young branches, petioles, leaf blade abaxial surfaces, and peduncles rust-colored tomentose 

or reddish brown erect villous. 

5a. Vegetative buds, young branches, petioles, leaf blade abaxial surfaces, and peduncles reddish 

brown erect villous .............................................................................................................................. 25. M. longipedunculata 

5b. Vegetative buds, young branches, petioles, leaf blade abaxial surfaces, and peduncles 

rust-colored tomentose.

MAGNOLIACEAE 

6a. Gynoecium glabrous .......................................................................................................................... 23. M. kwangtungensis 

6b. Gynoecium with trichomes ....................................................................................................................... 24. M. rufibarbata 

4b. Vegetative buds, young branches, petioles, leaf blade abaxial surfaces, and peduncles with sparse 

appressed trichomes or glabrous. 

7a. Leaf blade abaxially glaucous ....................................................................................................................... 28. M. glaucifolia 

7b. Leaf blade abaxially grayish green. 

8a. Stipular scar ca. 1/5 as long as petiole; inner tepals pure white .................................................................... 26. M. conifera 

8b. Stipular scar ca. 1/2 as long as petiole; inner tepals purplish ......................................................................... 27. M. ovoidea 

3b. Brachyblasts robust; fruit erect after flowering. 

9a. Leaf blade apex obtuse to emarginate ............................................................................................................ 10. M. hongheensis 

9b. Leaf blade apex acute, acuminate, cuspidate, or caudate. 

10a. Fruit subglobose; mature carpels only base inserted on torus adaxially, dehiscing along ventral suture 

first and then partly along dorsal suture ........................................................................................................ 2. M. aromatica 

10b. Fruit ovoid-ellipsoid, subterete, or ovoid; mature carpels completely or mostly inserted on torus 

adaxially, dehiscing along dorsal suture first and then along ventral suture. 

11a. Gynoecium with trichomes. 

12a. Beak of mature carpel 5–7 mm ....................................................................................................................... 8. M. ventii 

12b. Beak of mature carpel less than 3 mm. 

13a. Fruit cylindric ..................................................................................................................................... 7. M. zhengyiana 

13b. Fruit ellipsoidal or ovoid. 

14a. Mature carpels abaxially tuberculate ................................................................................................. 11. M. caveana 

14b. Mature carpels not abaxially tuberculate. 

15a. Leaf blade leathery, abaxially pale brownish pubescent, midvein white villous; fruit ovoid, 

8–10 cm .................................................................................................................................... 13. M. szechuanica 

15b. Leaf blade thinly leathery, both surfaces glabrous; fruit ovoid-ellipsoid, 5–6 cm ....................... 15. M. duclouxii 

11b. Gynoecium glabrous. 

16a. Androecium with trichomes .......................................................................................................................... 1. M. dandyi 

16b. Androecium glabrous. 

17a. Outer tepals abaxially with appressed reddish brown trichomes .......................................................... 19. M. forrestii 

17b. Outer tepals abaxially glabrous. 

18a. Gynoecium or fruit ovoid. 

19a. Tepals white; stipular scar nearly 1/6 as long as petiole ............................................................... 16. M. crassipes 

19b. Tepals pale red or purplish red; stipular scar 1/4–1/2 as long as petiole. 

20a. Young branches and brachyblasts with rust-colored trichomes; stipular scar more than 1/2 

as long as petiole ............................................................................................................................... 3. M. lucida 

20b. Young branches and brachyblasts glabrous; stipular scar nearly 1/4 as long as petiole ................ 4. M. grandis 

18b. Gynoecium or fruit terete or ellipsoid. 

21a. Stipular scar more than 1/2 as long as petiole. 

22a. Leaf blade elliptic to obovate, 18–34.5 × 8–12 cm, abaxially with dense fine brown trichomes 

(difficult to see even under hand lens); tepals purple to purplish red ........................................... 5. M. garrettii 

22b. Leaf blade elliptic-obovate to narrowly obovate, 20–30 × 6–10 cm, abaxially glabrous; tepals 

white ................................................................................................................................................ 6. M. hookeri 

21b. Stipular scar less than 1/2 as long as petiole. 

23a. Gynoecium terete. 

24a. Leaf blade glabrous on both surfaces ................................................................................. 12. M. patungensis 

24b. Leaf blade abaxially ± with trichomes. 

25a. Stipular scar less than 1/3 as long as petiole; leaf blade abaxial midvein reddish brown 

pubescent or scattered appressed hispidulous ........................................................................ 9. M. insignis 

25b. Stipular scar 1/10–1/5 as long as petiole; leaf blade abaxially with pale brownish red 

trichomes ............................................................................................................................ 14. M. chevalieri 

23b. Gynoecium ovoid or long ovoid. 

26a. Young branches glabrous; leaf blade obovate ................................................................... 21. M. obovalifolia 

26b. Young branches ± with trichomes; leaf blade elliptic or narrowly elliptic. 

27a. Tepals of inner 2 whorls transversely wavy striate ............................................................... 22. M. oblonga 

27b. Tepals of inner 2 whorls smooth. 

28a. Mature carpels abaxially furrowed but not tuberculate .............................................. 17. M. pachyphylla 

28b. Mature carpels abaxially not furrowed but tuberculate .................................................... 18. M. fordiana 

53

54 

1. Manglietia dandyi (Gagnepain) Dandy in Praglowski, 

World Pollen Spore Fl. 3(Magnoliaceae): 5. 1974. 

大叶木莲 da ye mu lian 

Magnolia dandyi Gagnepain, Notul. Syst. (Paris) 8: 63. 

1939; M. megaphylla (Hu & W. C. Cheng) V. S. Kumar; 

Manglietia megaphylla Hu & W. C. Cheng; ?M. sinoconifera 

F. N. Wei. 

Trees, 30–50 m tall, 80–100 cm d.b.h. Branches, leaf blade 

abaxial surfaces, petioles, stipules, peduncles, and spathaceous 

bracts densely long ferruginous tomentose. Stipular scar 1/3– 

2/3 as long as petiole. Leaves usually 5 or 6 clustered on branch 

apex; petiole 2–3 cm; leaf blade obovate, 25–50 × 10–20 cm, 

leathery, basal ca. 2/3 narrowed, adaxially glabrous, secondary 

veins 20–22 on each side of midvein, reticulate veins sparse and 

prominent on both surfaces when dry, base cuneate, apex acute. 

Brachyblasts thick and strong, 3.5–4 × ca. 1.5 cm; spathaceous 

bract 1, ca. 3 mm basal to tepals. Tepals 9 or 10, in 3 whorls, 

fleshy; tepals of outer whorl obovate-oblong, 4.5–5 × 2.5–2.8 

cm, adaxially ca. 7-striated; tepals of inner 2 whorls smaller. 

Stamens villous, 1.2–1.5 cm; filaments flat, ca. 2 mm; connective 

exserted with a ca. 1 mm triangular appendage; anthers 8– 

10 mm, thecae distinct and ca. 1 mm wide. Gynoecium ovoid, 

2–2.5 cm; carpels 60–75, ca. 1.5 cm, glabrous, with 1 furrow 

reaching to style apex. Fruiting brachyblasts thick and strong, 

1–3 × 1–1.3 cm. Fruit ovoid to long ellipsoid, 6.5–11 cm; mature 

carpels 2.5–3 cm, extrorsely slightly curved, dehiscent 

along dorsal and ventral sutures, apex acute. Fl. Jun, fr. Sep– 

Dec. 2n = 38. 

Evergreen broad-leaved forests; 400–1500 m. W Guangxi, SE 

Yunnan [Laos, Vietnam]. 

“Manglietia admirabilis Y. W. Law & R. Z. Zhou” (in Y. H. Liu, 

Magnolias China, 120. 2004) probably belongs here but was not validly 

published because no Latin description or diagnosis was provided and 

no type was indicated (Vienna Code, Art. 36.1 and 37.1). 

The status of Manglietia sinoconifera is uncertain because the 

authors have been unable to see the holotype, although it may be 

conspecific with M. dandyi. 

Manglietia dandyi is grown as an ornamental and used for timber. 

2. Manglietia aromatica Dandy, J. Bot. 69: 231. 1931. 

香木莲 xiang mu lian 

Magnolia aromatica (Dandy) V. S. Kumar; Paramanglietia 

aromatica (Dandy) Hu & W. C. Cheng. 

Trees, to 35 m tall, to 1.2 m d.b.h., glabrous except vegetative 

buds white appressed pubescent, aromatic. Bark gray and 

smooth. Young twigs pale green; terminal buds ellipsoid, ca. 3 

× 1.2 cm. Stipular scar 1/4–1/3 as long as petiole. Petiole 1.5– 

2.5 cm; leaf blade narrowly obovate to narrowly elliptic, 15–19 

× 6–7 cm, thinly leathery, lower ca. 1/3 gradually tapered, 

secondary veins 12–16 on each side of midvein, reticulate veins 

sparse and conspicuously prominent on both surfaces when dry, 

base slightly decurrent, apex shortly acuminate to acuminate. 

Peduncle strong, 10–15 × 6–8 mm in fruit; bract scar 1, 5–7 

mm basal to tepals. Tepals 11 or 12, in 4 whorls of 3, white; 

outer 3 tepals obovate-oblong, 7–11 × 3.5–5 cm, nearly leath- 

MAGNOLIACEAE 

ery; tepals of inner whorls obovate-spoon-shaped, 9–11.5 × 4– 

5.5 cm, fleshy, base clawed. Stamens ca. 100, 1.5–1.8 cm. Carpels 

glabrous. Fruit red when fresh, subglobose to ovoid, 7–8 

cm in diam.; mature carpels dehiscing along ventral and then 

dorsal sutures. Fl. May–Jun, fr. Sep–Oct. 2n = 38. 

Evergreen broad-leaved forests; 900–1600 m. SW Guangxi, 

Guizhou, SE Yunnan [Vietnam]. 

3. Manglietia lucida B. L. Chen & S. C. Yang, Acta Sci. Nat. 

Univ. Sunyatseni 1988(3): 94. 1988. 

亮叶木莲 liang ye mu lian 

Magnolia lucida (B. L. Chen & S. C. Yang) V. S. Kumar. 

Trees, to 18 m tall, to 65 cm d.b.h. Young twigs grayish, 

8–10 mm in diam., smooth, often longitudinally wrinkled when 

dry, glabrous or with minute trichomes. Stipules pubescent, scar 

1.6–4.5 cm. Petiole 3.6–6 cm, often thickened toward base, 

glabrous; leaf blade obovate, 27–44 × 11–16 cm, leathery, midvein 

abaxially rather elevated lengthwise, adaxially sulcate, 

secondary veins 13–19 on each side of midvein, apically 

curved, and meeting in an intramarginal vein, reticulate veins 

coarse and adaxially rather dull, base cuneate and decurrent 

with 2 ridges into petiole, apex acuminate, acumen 1–2.5 cm. 

Brachyblasts ca. 1.4 × 0.6 cm, pubescent; spathaceous bract 1, 

± at base of peduncle, broadly obovate, ca. 8.3 × 6.9 cm, thickly 

leathery, abaxially pubescent. Peduncle 5–6 mm, with same indumentum 

as brachyblast. Tepals 9(–11), purple; outer 3 tepals 

narrowly obovate, 12–14 × 5.8–6 cm, fleshy; inner 6–8 tepals in 

2 whorls, shorter and narrower than outer ones. Stamens many. 

Gynoecium ovoid, ca. 2.7 × 1.8 cm; carpels 70–80, nearly entirely 

connate when young, glabrous. Fruiting brachyblasts ca. 

4.5 × 1 cm; pedicel ca. 2.5 × 1 cm. Fruit ovoid-globose, ca. 9.5 

× 8–10 cm; torus ca. 3 × 2 cm, with scars of perianth and 

stamens; mature carpels 2–3.5 × 0.8–1 cm, woody, abaxial part 

1–1.5 cm, dehiscing along dorsal suture at first and later also 

along ventral suture. Seeds ca. 3 per carpel. Fl. Mar–May, fr. 

Sep–Oct. 

● Secondary evergreen broad-leaved forests; 500–700 m. SE 

Yunnan. 

4. Manglietia grandis Hu & W. C. Cheng, Acta Phytotax. Sin. 

1: 158. 1951. 

大果木莲 da guo mu lian 

Magnolia grandis (Hu & W. C. Cheng) V. S. Kumar. 

Trees, to 12 m tall. Twigs pale gray, thick and strong, glabrous. 

Stipules glabrous, scar ca. 1/4 as long as petiole. Petiole 

2.6–4 cm; leaf blade elliptic to obovate, 20–35.5 × 10–13 cm, 

leathery, glabrous, abaxially papillate, adaxially lucid, secondary 

veins 17–26 on each side of midvein and conspicuous when 

dry, base broadly cuneate, apex acute to cuspidate. Tepals 12, 

red; outer tepals thinner, obovate-oblong, 9–11 cm, 9–11-striated; 

innermost 3 tepals obovate-spoon-shaped, 8–12 × 3–6 cm, 

fleshy. Stamens 1.4–1.6 cm; connective with a ca. 1 mm mucro; 

anthers ca. 1.3 cm. Gynoecium ovoid, ca. 4 cm; carpels with 

midvein abaxially concave to apex of style. Fruiting brachyblasts 

thick and strong, ca. 1.3 cm in diam. Fruit ellipsoidovoid, 

10–12 cm; mature carpels 3–4 cm, dehiscing along ven-

tral sutures, apex acute and minutely incurved. Fl. May, fr. Sep– 

Oct. 2n = 38*. 

● Evergreen broad-leaved forests; 800–1500 m. SW Guangxi, SE 

Yunnan. 

This species is used for timber. 

5. Manglietia garrettii Craib, Bull. Misc. Inform. Kew 1922: 

166. 1922. 

泰国木莲 tai guo mu lian 

Magnolia garrettii (Craib) V. S. Kumar. 

Trees, to 20 m tall, to 1.2 m d.b.h. Young twigs, stipules, 

petioles, and peduncles densely brown pubescent with short to 

long and straight to slightly undulate trichomes. Twigs brown, 

5–8 mm in diam. Stipules adnate to petiole, scar 1.8–2.5 cm. 

Petiole 3–5 cm, thickened toward base; leaf blade elliptic to 

obovate, 18–34.5 × 8–12 cm, leathery, abaxially densely coated 

with minute (hardly visible even with hand lens) brownish trichomes, 

secondary veins 12–21 on each side of midvein and 

abaxially prominently elevated, reticulate veins coarse and 

prominent on both surfaces, base cuneate to rounded, apex 

shortly acuminate. Brachyblasts 1.5–4 × 0.6–0.9 cm. Flower 

buds elongate, 6–6.5 × 2.2–2.5 cm. Tepals 9, purple to violet 

red, thick and succulent; outer 3 tepals 6–6.5 × ca. 3 cm; inner 

tepals slightly smaller. Stamens 1.1–1.5 cm; connective appendage 

triangular, ca. 3 mm. Gynoecium ovoid to narrowly ovoid, 

ca. 3 × 2 cm, glabrous; carpels 66–68; styles glabrous, 2–3 mm. 

Fruit broadly ovoid-oblong, 4–9 × 3.5–6 cm; scar on torus of 

perianth and stamens 10–12 × ca. 9 mm; dorsal face of mature 

carpels 2.5–3.2 cm for basal ones and 1–2 cm for apical ones, 

apex shortly beaked. Seeds ellipsoid to obovoid, 9–14 × 5–8 

mm, irregularly shaped. 

Evergreen broad-leaved forests; 1300–1900 m. S Yunnan [N 

Thailand, Vietnam]. 

6. Manglietia hookeri Cubitt & W. W. Smith, Rec. Bot. Surv. 

India 4: 273. 1913. 

中缅木莲 zhong mian mu lian 

Magnolia hookeri (Cubitt & W. W. Smith) D. C. S. Raju & 

M. P. Nayar. 

Trees, to 25 m tall, young parts grayish white to pale 

brown appressed pilose. Stipular scar obtusely triangular, 2–3 

cm. Petiole 3–5 cm; leaf blade elliptic-obovate to narrowly 

obovate, 20–30 × 6–10 cm, both surfaces glabrous, secondary 

veins 16–20 on each side of midvein, reticulate veins prominent 

on both surfaces when dry, base cuneate, apex acute to shortly 

acuminate. Flowers ca. 10 cm in diam. at anthesis; bract scar 5– 

10 mm basal to tepals. Tepals 9–12, white; outer 3 tepals 

basally green and apically milky white, obovate-oblong, 6–8 × 

2.5–3 cm; middle and inner tepals thickly obovate to spatulate, 

6–8 × 1.5–2.5 cm, fleshy, base clawed. Fruit ovoid-ellipsoid to 

nearly terete, 7–10 × ca. 6 cm, smooth, not tuberculate; mature 

carpels more than 100, rhombic on exposed side, dehiscing 

along dorsal suture, apex shortly beaked. Seeds 1–4 per carpel. 

Fl. Apr–May, fr. Sep. 2n = 38. 

Evergreen broad-leaved forests; 1400–3000 m. Guizhou (Wangmo), 

C and S Yunnan (Jingdong, Xishuangbanna) [Myanmar, Thailand]. 

MAGNOLIACEAE 

This species is grown as an ornamental and used for timber. 

7. Manglietia zhengyiana N. H. Xia, sp. nov. 

锈毛木莲 xiu mao mu lian 

Type: China. Yunnan: Maguan Xian, Laojun Shan (老君 

山), Sitaipo (四台坡), alt. 1300–1600 m, 20 Dec 1947, K. M. 

Feng 13960 (holotype, KUN; isotypes, A, PE). 

Arbor usque ad 25 m alta, trunco usque ad 30 cm diametro, 

ramunculis gemmisque indumento denso ferrugineo indutis, 

gemmis ellipsoideis 1.3–2 cm longis et 0.5–0.9 cm latis. 

Folium petiolo 1.2–1.8 cm longo pilis ferrugineis induto cicatrice 

7–10 mm longa; lamina obovata usque elliptica 15–21.5 

cm longa et 5.5–9 cm lata acumine 0.6–1.1 cm longo, nervis 

utroque costae latere 8 ad 11. Brachyblastus florifer 1.5–2 cm 

longus. Flos tepalis albis; androecio pilis longis ferrugineis induto; 

carpellis glabris ca. 30, pilis ferrugineis dense indutis. 

Brachyblastus fructifer 1.5–3 cm longus et 4–5 mm latus pilis 

ferrugineis dense indutus. Fructus cylindraceus 5–8.3 cm longus 

et 2–2.8 cm latus. 

Trees, to 25 m tall, to 30 cm d.b.h. Branchlets with dense 

rust-colored trichomes; vegetative buds ellipsoid, 1.3–2 × 0.5– 

0.9 cm, with dense rust-colored trichomes. Stipular scar 7–10 

mm. Petiole 1.2–1.8 cm, with rust-colored trichomes; leaf blade 

obovate to elliptic, 15–21.5 × 5.5–9 cm, papery to thinly 

leathery, abaxially glaucous and with rust-colored trichomes, 

adaxially glabrous, secondary veins 8–11 on each side of midvein, 

base broadly cuneate, apex acuminate to acute, acumen 

0.6–1.1 cm. Brachyblasts 1.5–2 cm. Tepals 9, white; outer tepals 

3, oblong, ca. 3 × 2 cm, thinly leathery, outside with rustcolored 

trichomes at base; middle and inner tepals slightly 

fleshy, shorter and narrower. Stamens many, ca. 1.2 cm; filaments 

1.5–2 mm; connectives exserted, with a ca. 1 mm triangular 

appendage; anthers ca. 1 cm, thecae distinct. Stamen 

scars with long rust-colored trichomes. Carpels ca. 30, with 

dense rust-colored trichomes. Fruiting brachyblasts 1.5–3 cm × 

4–5 mm, with dense rust-colored trichomes. Fruit cylindric, 5– 

8.3 × 2–2.8 cm; mature carpels 1–1.5 × 0.6–1 cm, dehiscing 

along dorsal sutures. Seeds cordate. Fl. May–Jun, fr. Sep–Oct. 

● Forests; 1300–1600 m. SE Yunnan (Maguan, Xichou). 

K. M. Feng reported the type as being from “Mar-li-po: Sze-tai-po 

(loa-chün-shan),” but modern maps show that Sitaipo is in Dulong Zhen 

(都龙镇) in Maguan Xian, on the SW flank of Laojun Shan very close 

to the border with Malipo Xian (see: Atlas of roads and kilometers of 

Yunnan and neighboring regions (云南及周边地区公路里程地图册) 

34. 2008). Feng also misspelled the first character of the mountain name 

as “loa” rather than “lao.” Manglietia zhengyiana has been mistakenly 

included in M. rufibarbata (FRPS 31: 89. 1996; Fl. Yunnan. 16: 5. 

2006) or in M. dandyi (B. L. Chen & H. P. Nooteboom, Ann. Missouri 

Bot. Gard. 80: 1037. 1993). Also, see the comment under M. rufibarbata 

regarding the paratypes of M. pubipetala. 

8. Manglietia ventii N. V. Tiep, Feddes Repert. 91: 560. 1980. 

毛果木莲 mao guo mu lian 

Magnolia hebecarpa (C. Y. Wu & Y. W. Law) V. S. 

Kumar; M. ventii (N. V. Tiep) V. S. Kumar; Manglietia hebecarpa 

C. Y. Wu & Y. W. Law. 

55

56 

Trees, to 30 m tall. Young twigs blackish gray, 2–3.5 mm 

in diam., densely appressed tomentulose with short straight 

glistening yellowish trichomes, old ones ± gray pubescent to 

glabrescent. Stipular scar 1–2 cm. Leaves usually crowded at 

apex of twigs; petiole slender, 2.6–3 cm, tomentulose, with 

same trichomes as on young twigs, glabrescent; leaf blade 

elliptic, broadly elliptic, obovate-elliptic, or obovate, 9–18 × 

2.2–6.5 cm, papery to thinly leathery, abaxially appressed 

tomentose with short straight glistening yellowish to silver 

trichomes, adaxially glabrous, midvein abaxially elevated and 

densely pubescent to glabrescent and adaxially impressed, 

secondary veins 12–16 on each side of midvein, fine, abaxially 

visible, and adaxially inconspicuous, reticulate veins lax and 

faint on both surfaces, base cuneate to obtuse, apex shortly acuminate 

to acuminate, acumen 0.3–1.7 cm and sometimes asymmetric. 

Flower not seen. Fruiting brachyblasts 10–15 × 4–6 

mm, yellowish appressed tomentose, with a bract scar. Pedicel 

absent. Fruit ovoid to long globose, 3.5–7 × 2.5–4.5 cm; torus 

with 6–9 × ca. 7 mm scar of perianth and stamens; scar of fallen 

tepals ca. 10 mm; mature carpels ca. 64, long ovoid, 2–2.2 cm, 

erect or recurved, dehiscing along dorsal suture, beak rather 

long, 5–7 mm; basalmost carpels ± yellowish pubescent especially 

toward base, basally decurrent along torus. Seeds 1–3 per 

carpel, subcordate to ovoid, 7–7.5 × 5–6 mm, ± impressed. Fl. 

Apr–May, fr. Aug–Sep. 

Forests; 800–1200 m. SE Yunnan (Pingbian) [Vietnam]. 

9. Manglietia insignis (Wallich) Blume, Fl. Javae 19–20(Magnoliaceae): 

23. 1829. 

红花木莲 hong hua mu lian 

Magnolia insignis Wallich, Tent. Fl. Napal. 3. 1824; M. 

insignis var. angustifolia (J. D. Hooker & Thomson) H. J. 

Chowdhery & P. Daniel; M. insignis var. latifolia (J. D. Hooker 

& Thomson) H. J. Chowdhery & P. Daniel; M. shangpaensis 

Hu; Manglietia insignis var. angustifolia J. D. Hooker & Thomson; 

M. insignis var. latifolia J. D. Hooker & Thomson; M. 

maguanica Hung T. Chang & B. L. Chen; M. rufisyncarpa Y. 

W. Law et al.; M. yunnanensis Hu. 

Trees, to 30 m tall, to 20 cm d.b.h. Twigs glabrous or 

nodes ferruginous to yellowish brown pubescent when young. 

Stipular scar 0.5–1.2 cm. Petiole 1.8–3.5 cm; leaf blade narrowly 

ovate or elliptic, 10–26 × 4–10 cm, leathery, adaxially 

glabrous, midvein abaxially reddish brown pubescent or scattered 

appressed hispidulous, basal ca. 2/3 tapered to base, apex 

acuminate to caudate-acuminate. Brachyblasts thick and strong, 

8–10 mm in diam.; bract scar 1, ca. 1 cm basal to tepals. Flowers 

fragrant. Tepals 9–12; outer 3 tepals abaxially brown and 

adaxially reddish to purplish red, obovate-oblong, ca. 7 cm, 

curved outward; middle and inner tepals milky whitish pink, 

obovate-spatulate, 5–7 cm, erect, basal ca. 1/4 tapered and 

clawed. Stamens 1–1.8 cm; filaments nearly as long as exserted 

part of connective; connective exserted and forming a triangular 

mucro; thecae slightly distinct. Gynoecium terete, 5–6 cm; carpels 

glabrous, abaxially shallowly furrowed. Fruit purplish red 

when fresh, ovoid-ellipsoid, 7–12 cm; mature carpels tuberculate, 

completely dehiscing along dorsal sutures. Fl. May–Jun, fr. 

Aug–Sep. 2n = 38. 

MAGNOLIACEAE 

Evergreen broad-leaved forests; 900–1200 m. Guangxi, Guizhou, 

SW Hunan, SW Sichuan, SE Xizang, Yunnan [NE India, N Myanmar, 

Nepal, Thailand]. 

“Manglietia carimina Y. W. Law & R. Z. Zhou,” “M. laojunia Y. 

W. Law & R. Z. Zhou,” “M. malipoensis S. C. Yang & Y. W. Law,” “M. 

miechangensis Y. W. Law & D. X. Li,” “M. nucifera D. X. Li & R. Z. 

Zhou,” “M. paruicula Y. W. Law & R. Z. Zhou,” “M. tengchongensis S. 

C. Yang & Y. W. Law,” and “M. zhengkangensis R. Z. Zhou & D. X. Li” 

(in Y. H. Liu, Magnolias China, 126, 158, 166, 173, 176, 184, 196, 204. 

2004) belong here but were not validly published because no Latin 

descriptions or diagnoses were provided and no types were indicated 

(Vienna Code, Art. 36.1 and 37.1). 


10. Manglietia hongheensis Y. M. Shui & W. H. Chen, Bull. 

Bot. Res., Harbin 23: 129. 2003. 

红河木莲 hong he mu lian 

Magnolia hongheensis (Y. M. Shui & W. H. Chen) V. S. 

Kumar. 

Trees, 10–15 m tall. Old twigs robust, 1.1–1.5 cm in 

diam., sparsely lenticellate; young twigs densely rust-colored 

appressed hispid. Stipular scar 7–8 mm. Petiole ca. 3.3 cm, 

densely rust-colored appressed hispid; leaf blade oblong, ca. 21 

× 11 cm, leathery, abaxially densely rust-colored appressed 

hispid (visible under hand lens), adaxially glabrous, midvein 

abaxially prominent and adaxially impressed, secondary veins 

12–14 on each side of midvein, reticulate veins adaxially conspicuous, 

base rounded, margin slightly involute, apex obtuse to 

emarginate. Flowers not seen. Fruiting brachyblasts 2.3–2.4 × 

ca. 0.7 cm, smooth, sparsely lenticellate. Fruit ovoid-ellipsoid 

to cylindric, 10–11 × ca. 4.4 cm; mature carpels ca. 100, ellipsoid, 

1.9–2 cm, glabrous, tuberculate, dehiscing along dorsal 

and ventral sutures, apex shortly beaked. Seeds 2–5 per carpel, 

irregularly polygonal, smooth; testa red. Fr. Oct. 

● Evergreen broad-leaved forests; 1900–2600 m. SE Yunnan 

(Lüchun, Yuanyang). 

11. Manglietia caveana J. D. Hooker & Thomson, Fl. Ind. 1: 

76. 1855. 

西藏木莲 xi zang mu lian 

Magnolia caveana (J. D. Hooker & Thomson) D. C. S. 

Raju & M. P. Nayar; M. tibetica V. S. Kumar; Manglietia 

microtricha Y. W. Law; M. tenuifolia Hung T. Chang & B. L. 

Chen. 

Trees, 30–40 m tall, 40–60 cm d.b.h. Twigs thick and 

strong, 6–10 mm in diam.; vegetative buds orangish red appressed 

pubescent. Stipular scar 1/3–1/2 as long as petiole. 

Leaves usually 6–9 clustered on apex of twigs; petiole 2–2.5 

cm; leaf blade obovate, 13–17 × 5–7 cm, leathery, abaxially 

grayish white, adaxially glabrous, midvein adaxially impressed, 


fine, dense, and prominent on both surfaces when dry, base cuneate, 

apex shortly acute. Flowers not seen; bract scar 1, just 

basal to tepals. Fruiting peduncle 1.5–2 cm, glabrous. Fruit 

ovoid, ca. 6 × 4 cm, usually curved because of carpels partly 

undeveloped; mature carpels abaxially narrowly elliptic, tuber-

culate, brownish appressed pilose and pale brown appressed 

finely pilose, apex with a ca. 3 mm beak. Seeds pale brown. Fr. 

Sep–Oct. 

Evergreen broad-leaved forests; ca. 2000 m. SE Xizang (Mêdog), 

SE Yunnan (Maguan) [NE India, Myanmar]. 

12. Manglietia patungensis Hu, Acta Phytotax. Sin. 1: 335. 

1951. 

巴东木莲 ba dong mu lian 

Trees, to 25 m tall, to 1.4 m d.b.h. Bark pale grayish 

brown and reddish. Twigs grayish brown. Stipular scar 1/7–1/5 

as long as petiole. Petiole 2.5–3 cm; leaf blade obovate-elliptic, 

14–18(–20) × 3.5–7 cm, thinly leathery, both surfaces glabrous, 

abaxially pale green, adaxially green and glossy, midvein abaxially 

prominent, secondary veins 13–15 on each side of midvein, 

base cuneate, apex caudate-acuminate. Flowers 8.5–11 cm in 

diam., fragrant. Peduncle ca. 1.5 cm; bract scar 1, 5–10 mm 

basal to tepals. Tepals 9, white; outer 3 tepals narrowly oblong, 

4.5–6 × 1.5–2.5 cm, nearly leathery, apex obtuse; middle and 

inner tepals obovate, 4.5–5.5 × 2–3.5 cm, fleshy. Stamens 6–8 

mm; anthers purplish red, 5–6 mm; connective exserted and 

forming a ca. 1 mm mucro; thecae adnate at base, sometimes 

apex slightly free. Gynoecium conic, ca. 2 cm; carpels not 

abaxially furrowed; ovules 4–8 per carpel. Fruit pale purplish 

red, terete-ellipsoid, 5–9 × 2.5–3 cm; mature carpels dotted on 

exposed side. Fl. May–Jun, fr. Jul–Oct. 

● Forests; 600–1000 m. Chongqing, W Hubei, NW Hunan, E Sichuan. 

This species is used medicinally. 

13. Manglietia szechuanica Hu, Bull. Fan Mem. Inst. Biol., 

Bot. 10: 117. 1940. 

四川木莲 si chuan mu lian 

Magnolia figlarii V. S. Kumar (2006), not M. szechuanica 

(Dandy) Figlar (2000). 

Trees, to 20 m tall, to 60 cm d.b.h. Older twigs grayish 

yellow; young twigs green, densely villous, hairs gradually 

deciduous, only residual at nodes. Stipular scar 4–6(–9) cm. 

Petiole 1.5–2.5 cm, white villous; leaf blade narrowly obovate 

to obovate, 11–20 × 3–6 cm, lower ca. 1/3 tapered, abaxially 

pale green and pale brown pubescent, adaxially deep green and 

glabrous, midvein white villous, secondary veins 13–16 on each 

side, reticulate veins sparse and prominent on both surfaces 

when dry, base cuneate, apex acuminate to shortly caudate. 

Flower buds ovoid; bract scar 1, 3–6 mm basal to tepals. Tepals 

9, purplish red; outer 3 tepals pale green and usually flushed 

purplish, obovate, 5.5–6.5 × ca. 3 cm, sparsely villous; middle 

and inner tepals purplish red, 4–5.5 × 2.5–3 cm but inner ones 

smaller. Stamens 1.2–2 cm; filaments deep red, ca. 1 mm; connective 

exserted and forming a ca. 1 mm triangular mucro; anthers 

ca. 1 cm, introrse. Gynoecium ovoid-ellipsoid, 2–2.5 cm; 

carpels pale green, narrowly ellipsoid, 0.8–1 cm, densely 

shortly brown tomentose; styles pale red, ca. 3 mm. Fruit ovoid, 

8–10 cm. Fl. Apr–May, fr. Aug–Sep. 

● Evergreen broad-leaved forests; 1300–2000 m. C and S Sichuan, 

N Yunnan. 

MAGNOLIACEAE 

14. Manglietia chevalieri Dandy, J. Bot. 68: 204. 1930. 

睦南木莲 mu nan mu lian 

Magnolia chevalieri (Dandy) V. S. Kumar. 

Trees, to 10 m tall. Bark grayish brown. Perules, young 

twigs, leaf blade abaxial surfaces, petioles, and stipular scars 

with pale reddish brown appressed trichomes. Young twigs 

green. Stipular scar semi-orbicular to semi-elliptic, 1/10–1/5 as 

long as petiole. Petiole 1.5–3 cm; leaf blade obovate to narrowly 

obovate, 10–18(–20) × 3.5–5(–6.5) cm, leathery, adaxially 

glabrous, secondary veins 10–18 on each side of midvein, 

base cuneate, apex cuspidate to shortly caudate. Tepals 9, in 3 

whorls; outer (2 or)3 tepals oblong-elliptic, ca. 7.5 × 3 cm, thin, 

abaxially greenish; tepals of inner 2 whorls white and slightly 

yellowish, obovate, fleshy, base gradually tapered and forming 

a long claw; inner tepals smaller and narrower. Stamens 6–9 

mm; connective exserted and forming a ca. 1.5 mm mucro. 

Gynoecium terete, ca. 1.7 × 1 cm; carpels narrowly obovoid, ca. 

6 mm, exposed part of apical ones shallowly furrowed; ovules 

8–10 per carpel, stalked. Fruit ovoid to ellipsoid, 5–9 × ca. 4 

cm. Fl. Feb–Apr, fr. Sep–Oct. 

Forests. S Yunnan [N Laos, Vietnam]. 

This species is grown as an ornamental. 

15. Manglietia duclouxii Finet & Gagnepain, Bull. Soc. Bot. 

France 52(Mém. 4): 33. 1906. 

川滇木莲 chuan dian mu lian 

Magnolia duclouxii (Finet & Gagnepain) Hu in Hu & 

Chun, Icon. Pl. Sin. 2: 18. 1929. 

Trees, to 6 m tall. Twigs glabrous. Stipular scar ca. 1/3 as 

long as petiole. Petiole 1–2.3 cm, adaxially deeply furrowed; 

leaf blade narrowly obovate to obovate-narrowly elliptic, 8–13 

× 2.5–4 cm, thinly leathery, glabrous, adaxially deep green, 

midvein impressed and abaxially grayish green, reticulate veins 

inconspicuous, base cuneate, apex acuminate. Peduncle glabrous; 

spathaceous bract 1, next to tepals. Tepals 9, fleshy; 

outer 3 tepals red, abaxially tuberculate; tepals of inner 2 whorls 

purplish red, obovate, 2.8–4.5 × 1.5–2.5 cm, transversely 

veined, clawed, base thickened. Stamens 1–1.2 cm; filaments 

short and broad, 1–1.5 mm; connective exserted and forming a 

2–3 mm triangular mucro; anthers 6–7 mm, thecae slightly distinct 

and dehiscent introrsely. Gynoecium narrowly ellipsoid, 

7–8 mm, villous; ovules 5 per carpel; styles 2–3 mm. Fruit 

ovoid-ellipsoid, 5–6 cm. Fl. May–Jun, fr. Sep–Oct. 

Evergreen broad-leaved forests; 1300–2000 m. Guangxi, SE Sichuan, 

NE Yunnan [N Vietnam]. 


16. Manglietia crassipes Y. W. Law, Bull. Bot. Res., Harbin 

2(4): 133. 1982. 

粗梗木莲 cu geng mu lian 

Magnolia crassipes (Y. W. Law) V. S. Kumar. 

Trees or shrubs, to 4 m tall. Twigs, vegetative buds, and 

abaxial surfaces of leaf blade glaucous. Twigs thick and strong, 

57

58 

0.6–10 mm in diam. Stipular scar ca. 1/6 as long as petiole. 

Petiole thick and strong, 3–3.5 cm × 2–2.5 mm; leaf blade 

narrowly obovate to obovate-elliptic, 13–26 × 5–8 cm, leathery, 

abaxially glaucous, adaxially green, midvein adaxially slightly 

prominent to flat, secondary and reticulate veins prominent on 

both surfaces when dry, secondary veins 8–14 on each side of 

midvein, reticulate veins sparse, base broadly cuneate, apex 

shortly acute. Peduncle thick and strong, 3.5–4 cm; spathaceous 

bract 1, thin. Tepals 9, in 3 whorls, white; outer 3 tepals obovate-oblong, 

3.5–4 × 2–2.5 cm, thin, 5-striated; tepals of inner 2 

whorls thick, fleshy. Stamens numerous, 1–1.5 cm; connective 

exserted, triangular, 2–3 mm; anthers 8–9 mm. Gynoecium 

ovoid, ca. 1.5 × 1.8 cm. Fruiting peduncle thick and strong, 

4.5–5.5 × ca. 1 cm. Fruit ovoid, 5–6 × 4–5 cm; mature carpels 

ellipsoid, 1.5–2 cm, dehiscing into 2 valves along both ventral 

and dorsal sutures, apex shortly beaked. Fl. May, fr. Sep. 2n = 

38*. 

● Forests; ca. 1300 m. Guangxi (Jinxiu). 

17. Manglietia pachyphylla Hung T. Chang, Acta Sci. Nat. 

Univ. Sunyatseni 1: 55. 1961. 

厚叶木莲 hou ye mu lian 

Trees, to 16 m tall, to 30 cm d.b.h. Bark grayish black. 

Twigs thick and strong, glaucous and glabrous; vegetative buds 

pale yellow to dark brown villous. Stipular scar 2–3 mm. Petiole 

thick and strong, 3–5 cm; leaf blade obovate-elliptic to obovate-oblong, 

12–32 × 6–10 cm, thickly leathery, rigid, both surfaces 

glabrous, abaxially pale green, adaxially deep green and 

glossy, secondary veins 12–14 on each side of midvein and 

inconspicuous on both surfaces, reticulate veins inconspicuous, 

base cuneate, apex acute. Peduncle thick and strong, ca. 1 cm in 

diam., glabrous; bract scar 1, ca. 5 mm basal to tepals. Flowers 

fragrant. Tepals 9(or 10), white; outer 3 tepals obovate, 7–8 × 

3–3.5 cm; middle 3 tepals obovate, 5.5–6 cm, fleshy; inner 3(or 

4) tepals obovate, ca. 5 × 2.5 cm, fleshy, base narrowed and 

forming a claw; innermost tepal narrower and longer, ca. 5.5 × 

2 cm. Stamens ca. 1.2 cm; filaments ca. 1 mm, basally connate; 

connective exserted and forming a mucro; anthers ca. 1 cm. 

Gynoecium ovoid, ca. 2.2 × 1.8 cm; carpels ca. 5 mm; ovules 

10–12 per carpel; styles 1–2 mm. Fruit ellipsoid, ca. 7 × 4.5 cm; 

mature carpels 38–46, 2–2.5 cm, abaxially furrowed, apex 

shortly beaked. Seeds 3 or 4, orbicular, 5–6 mm. Fl. May, fr. 

Sep–Oct. 

● Montane forests; 800–1500 m. SC Guangdong. 


18. Manglietia fordiana Oliver, Hooker’s Icon. Pl. 20: t. 1953. 

1891. 

木莲 mu lian 

Trees, to 25 m tall, to 45 cm d.b.h. Bark pale grayish 

brown. Young twigs and vegetative buds reddish brown pubescent, 

later glabrescent. Stipular scar semi-elliptic, 3–5 mm. Petiole 

1–3(–4.5) cm, base slightly swollen; leaf blade narrowly 

obovate, narrowly elliptic-obovate, or rarely narrowly elliptic, 

8–17(–20) × 2.5–5.5(–9.5) cm, leathery or thinly leathery, abaxially 

sparsely reddish brown pubescent, secondary veins 8–17 

MAGNOLIACEAE 

on each side of midvein, reticulate veins conspicuous or inconspicuous 

on both surfaces when dry, base cuneate and decurrent 

along petiole, margin slightly involute and wavy or not wavy, 

apex acute to acuminate. Peduncle 5–11(–40) × 4–10 mm, with 

1 annular bract scar, with or without reddish brown pubescence. 

Tepals 9, 3 per whorl, white; outer 3 tepals slightly thinner, 

oblong-elliptic, broadly ovate or obovate, 5–7 × 3–4 cm, nearly 

leathery; tepals of inner 2 whorls obovate, 4–6 × 2–3 cm, 

usually fleshy. Stamens red, ca. 1 cm; connective forming an 

obtuse mucro; anthers ca. 8 mm. Gynoecium 1.5–2.5 cm, 

smooth; carpels 18–32, basal ones 5–10 × 3–5 mm, middle 

ones ca. 5 mm wide on exposed side; ovules 5–10 per carpel; 

styles inconspicuous or to 1 mm. Fruit brown, ovoid to ellipsoid-ovoid, 

2–6 cm; mature carpels with dot-protuberance on 

exposed side, apex with or without a ca. 1 mm beak. Seeds 

slightly flat, 7–8 × 5–6 mm; testa red. Fl. Apr–May, fr. Sep–Oct. 

Hills, forests, beside rivers; 300–1200 m. S Anhui, Fujian, Guangdong, 

Guangxi, Guizhou, Hainan, Hunan, Jiangxi, Yunnan, Zhejiang 

[Vietnam]. 

This species is used medicinally and for timber. 

1a. Leaf blade leathery, reticulate veins 

inconspicuous on both surfaces when dry, 

margin not wavy; peduncle with reddish 

brown trichomes; outer tepals oblong- 

elliptic; carpel with ca. 1 mm beak ........ 18a. var. fordiana 

1b. Leaf blade thinly leathery, reticulate 

veins conspicuous on both surfaces 

when dry, margin wavy; peduncle 

glabrous; outer tepals broadly ovate 

to obovate; carpel without a beak .... 18b. var. hainanensis 

18a. Manglietia fordiana var. fordiana 

木莲(原变种) mu lian (yuan bian zhong) 

Magnolia fordiana (Oliver) Hu; M. yuyuanensis (Y. W. 

Law) V. S. Kumar; Manglietia yuyuanensis Y. W. Law; Paramanglietia 

microcarpa Hung T. Chang. 

Leaf blade leathery, reticulate veins inconspicuous on both 

surfaces when dry, margin not wavy. Peduncle with reddish 

brown trichomes. Outer tepals oblong-elliptic. Carpel with a ca. 

1 mm beak. Fl. May, fr. Oct. 2n = 38. 

Hills; ca. 1200 m. S Anhui, Fujian, Guangdong, Guangxi, Guizhou, 

Hunan, Jiangxi, Yunnan, Zhejiang [Vietnam]. 

This taxon is used medicinally and for timber. 

18b. Manglietia fordiana var. hainanensis (Dandy) N. H. Xia, 

comb. et stat. nov. 

海南木莲 hai nan mu lian 

Basionym: Manglietia hainanensis Dandy, J. Bot. 68: 204. 

1930; M. albistaminea Y. W. Law et al. 

Leaf blade thinly leathery, reticulate veins conspicuous on 

both surfaces when dry, margin wavy. Peduncle glabrous. Outer 

tepals broadly ovate to obovate. Carpel without a beak. Fl. Apr– 

May, fr. Sep–Oct. 

● Forests, beside rivers; 300–1200 m. Hainan.

“Manglietia albistaminata Y. W. Law & R. Z. Zhou” and “M. 

renzhangii Y. W. Law” (in Y. H. Liu, Magnolias China, 122, 187. 2004) 

belong here but were not validly published because no Latin descriptions 

or diagnoses were provided and no types were indicated (Vienna 

Code, Art. 36.1 and 37.1). “Manglietia albistaminata” was subsequently 

validly published as M. albistaminea. 

This taxon is used for timber. 

19. Manglietia forrestii W. W. Smith ex Dandy, Notes Roy. 

Bot. Gard. Edinburgh 16: 126. 1928. 

滇桂木莲 dian gui mu lian 

Magnolia fordiana (Oliver) Hu var. forrestii (W. W. Smith 

ex Dandy) V. S. Kumar; Manglietia fordiana Oliver var. forrestii 

(W. W. Smith ex Dandy) B. L. Chen & Nooteboom. 

Trees, to 25 m tall, ca. 30 cm d.b.h. Young twigs, buds, 

petioles, abaxial base of outer tepals, and peduncles reddish 

brown appressed glossy villous. Stipular scars 3–10 mm. 

Petiole 1–3 cm; leaf blade obovate to oblong-obovate, 11–20 × 

5–9.5 cm, leathery, abaxially sparsely covered with reddish 

brown erect trichomes, adaxially glabrous, secondary veins 12– 

16 on each side of midvein, base cuneate to broadly cuneate, 

apex abruptly acute to acuminate. Flowers fragrant. Tepals 9(or 

10), white; outer 3 tepals oblong-obovate, 4.5–7 cm; tepals of 

inner 2 whorls obovate, ca. 4.5 cm, thickly fleshy, glabrous; 

inner 3 tepals smaller. Stamens 1.1–1.5 cm; connective exserted, 

obtuse; anthers ca. 1 cm, ± distinct or only connate at 

base. Gynophore 1–2.5 cm. Gynoecium ovoid, ca. 2.5 cm; carpels 

glabrous. Fruit ovoid, 4–6 cm; mature carpels densely 

tuberculate, dehiscent along dorsal and ventral sutures, apex 

shortly beaked. Seeds black, abaxially with several furrows, 

ventral furrow impressed, base sharp. Fl. Jun, fr. Sep–Oct. 

● Forests; 1100–2900 m. SW Guangxi, S and W Yunnan. 

One of the co-authors (Nooteboom) considers that this taxon 

would be better treated as a variety of Manglietia (Magnolia) fordiana. 


20. Manglietia calcarea X. H. Song, J. Nanjing Inst. Forest. 

1984(4): 46. 1984. 

石山木莲 shi shan mu lian 

Magnolia fordiana (Oliver) Hu var. calcarea (X. H. Song) 

V. S. Kumar; Manglietia fordiana Oliver var. calcarea (X. H. 

Song) B. L. Chen & Nooteboom. 

Trees, to 14 m tall, ca. 35 cm d.b.h., glabrous except for 

stipules. Young twigs 5–7 mm in diam. Stipules densely 

covered with straight appressed brown trichomes, adnate to 

base of petiole, scars 4–5 mm. Petiole 2.8–3.8 cm, dilated 

toward base; leaf blade obovate-elliptic to narrowly obovate, 

14.5–20 × 3.5–7 cm, leathery and rigid, adaxially dark green, 

midrib abaxially prominent and adaxially impressed, secondary 

veins 14–17 on each side of midvein, abaxially visible to 

slightly prominent, and adaxially inconspicuous, base attenuatecuneate, 

apex rounded with a 6–10(–14) mm acumen. Peduncle 

5–8(–20) × 5–6 mm. Tepals 9, white; outer 3 tepals obovateelliptic, 

ca. 6.2 × 2.5 cm, apex rounded; inner tepals spatulate, 

4.5–5.5(–6) cm. Stamens many, ca. 1.2 cm; filament ca. 2 mm; 

MAGNOLIACEAE 

connective exserted into a triangular ca. 1.8 mm tip. Perianth 

and stamens scar band 8–14 × 5–6 mm. Gynoecium broadly 

ellipsoid, 1.6–2 × ca. 1 cm; carpels 12–16(–30); ovules ca. 7 per 

carpel. Fruiting gynophore 9–11 × ca. 6 mm. Fruit ovoid to 

ovoid-globose, ca. 6 × 5 cm; mature carpels woody, dorsal face 

elliptic, dehiscent along dorsal suture; perianth and stamens 

scar band 1.2–1.3 × 0.7–0.8 cm. Seeds 2–5 per carpel, oblong, 

8–10 × 5–6 mm. 

● Forest margins, limestone areas; 600–800 m. Guizhou. 

One of the co-authors (Nooteboom) considers that this taxon 

would be better treated as a variety of Manglietia (Magnolia) fordiana. 


21. Manglietia obovalifolia C. Y. Wu & Y. W. Law, Acta 

Phytotax. Sin. 34: 89. 1996. 

倒卵叶木莲 dao luan ye mu lian 

Magnolia obovalifolia (C. Y. Wu & Y. W. Law) V. S. 

Kumar. 

Trees, to 30 m tall, to 50 cm d.b.h. Twigs 3–4 mm in 

diam., glabrous. Stipular scar 2–3 mm. Petiole 1.5–2 cm, glabrous, 

adaxially furrowed; leaf blade obovate, 6–11 × 3–6 cm, 

thinly leathery, both surfaces glabrous, midvein adaxially impressed, 

secondary veins 9–11 on each side of midvein, reticulate 

veins prominent on both surfaces when dry, base broadly 

cuneate and slightly decurrent, margin slightly reflexed, apex 

cuspidate with a 5–10 mm mucro. Flower buds ovoid, 3–4 cm. 

Peduncle 1–1.5 cm, glabrous, with a bract scar; spathaceous 

bract 1, just next to tepals, tuberculate, glabrous, dehiscing 

along one side. Tepals 9, fleshy; outer 3 tepals ovate, 3–3.5 × 

ca. 1.5 cm; tepals of inner 2 whorls smaller. Gynoecium narrowly 

ovoid-ellipsoid, ca. 2.5 × 0.8 cm; carpels conspicuously 

with 2 or 3 series, tuberculate, furrowed along dorsal suture, 

furrow not reaching to style apex; ovules ca. 6 per carpel; styles 

5–6 mm. Fruit not seen. Fl. Apr–May. 

● Forests; 1400–1500 m. S Guizhou, SE Yunnan. 

22. Manglietia oblonga Y. W. Law et al., Ann. Bot. Fenn. 43: 

64. 2006. 

椭圆叶木莲 tuo yuan ye mu lian 

Trees, to 20 m tall, to 40 cm d.b.h. Bark blackish brown. 

Vegetative buds, petioles, leaf blade abaxial surfaces, flower 

buds, and peduncles golden yellow appressed pubescent. Twigs 

pale green when young, brown when old. Stipular scar ca. 6 

mm. Petiole 2–2.5 cm; leaf blade obovate-elliptic, 13–20 × 3.5– 

4.5 cm, leathery, secondary veins 12–15 on each side of midvein, 

base cuneate, apex acuminate. Tepals 9, outer 3 pale green 

and thinner, inner 6 white and fleshy, transversely wavy striate; 

tepals of middle whorl 3, ovate, 4.5–5.5 × 2.5–3.5 cm; innermost 

3 tepals long ovate, 4–5 × 2–3 cm. Stamens numerous, 

red, 6–7 mm; connective exserted and forming a triangular 

mucro; anthers 5–6 mm. Gynoecium ovoid; carpels 14 or 15, 

long ovoid, ca. 7 mm, brownish pubescent; styles white. Fruit 

not seen. Fl. Apr–May. 

● Evergreen broad-leaved forests; 800–1200 m. Guangxi (Lingui, 

Xing’an). 

59

60 

23. Manglietia kwangtungensis (Merrill) Dandy, Bull. Misc. 

Inform. Kew 1927: 264. 1927. 

毛桃木莲 mao tao mu lian 

Magnolia kwangtungensis Merrill, J. Arnold Arbor. 8: 5. 

1927; M. fordiana (Oliver) Hu var. kwangtungensis (Merrill) V. 

S. Kumar; M. moto (Dandy) V. S. Kumar; Manglietia fordiana 

Oliver var. kwangtungensis (Merrill) B. L. Chen & Nooteboom; 

M. moto Dandy. 

Trees, to 20 m tall, to 60 cm d.b.h. Bark deep gray, with 

several lenticels transversely arranged or linked into pieces. 

Young twigs, vegetative buds, petioles, young leaf blades, and 

fruiting peduncles densely rust-colored tomentose. Stipules 

narrowly ovate, ca. 6 × 1.2 cm, ferruginous tomentose, scar 

narrowly triangular, ca. 1/3 as long as petiole. Petiole 2–4 cm, 

apical part narrowly furrowed; leaf blade obovate-elliptic, narrowly 

obovate-elliptic, or narrowly obovate, 12–25 × 4–8 cm, 

leathery, abaxially ferruginous tomentose especially along midvein, 

adaxially glabrous, secondary veins 10–15 on each side of 

midvein, base cuneate to broadly cuneate, apex acute to acuminate. 

Flowers fragrant. Peduncle 6–12 cm. Tepals 9, milky 

white; outer 3 tepals nearly oblong, 6.5–7.5 cm, leathery; 

middle 3 tepals obovate, 6.5–7 × 3.5–4 cm, thickly fleshy; inner 

3 tepals obovate-spoon-shaped, 6–6.5 × 2–2.5 cm, thickly 

fleshy. Stamens red, 1.1–1.3 cm; connective exserted 1.5–2 

mm, apex mucronate; anthers ca. 1 cm. Gynoecium ovoid, ca. 2 

× 1.5 cm; basal carpels narrowly ellipsoid, 10–12 × ca. 3 mm 

(including style), dorsally 4–6-ridged, glabrous; apical carpels 

abaxially shallowly furrowed, apex sharply long acuminate; 

ovules 6–8 per carpel. Fruit ovoid, 5–7 × 3.5–6 cm; mature 

carpels abaxially tuberculate, apex with a 2–3 mm beak. Fl. 

May–Jun, fr. Aug–Dec. 

● Evergreen broad-leaved forests, on acidic yellow soil; 400–1200 

m. S Fujian, Guangdong, W Guangxi, S Hunan. 


24. Manglietia rufibarbata Dandy, Notes Roy. Bot. Gard. 

Edinburgh 16: 128. 1928. 

毛瓣木莲 mao ban mu lian 

Magnolia rufibarbata (Dandy) V. S. Kumar; Manglietia 

pubipetala Q. W. Zeng. 

Trees to 20 m tall, to 30 cm d.b.h. Bark grayish brown. 

Young twigs, vegetative buds, stipules, petioles, young leaf 

blades, and fruiting peduncles densely rust-colored tomentose. 

Stipules adnate to petiole; scar as long as 1/3–1/2 of petiole. 

Petiole 2–2.5 cm; leaf blade obovate-oblong, 18–24 × 7–8 cm, 

thinly leathery, basal ca. 1/2 gradually narrower, abaxially with 

dense rust-colored trichomes, adaxially glabrous, base broadly 

cuneate, apex caudate-acuminate. Flower buds ovoid, ca. 3.5 × 

2 cm. Peduncle ca. 2.5 cm. Tepals 12; outer 3 tepals pale green, 

oblong, ca. 3.8 × 2 cm, rust-colored tomentose; middle 3 tepals 

white, ca. 3.2 × 2.3 cm, fleshy, base rust-colored tomentose; 

inner 6 tepals spatulate, ca. 3 × 1.6 cm, fleshy. Stamens many, 

red, abaxially sparsely hirsute; filaments 1–1.5 mm; connective 

exserted, with a ca. 1 mm triangular appendage; anthers ca. 1 

cm, thecae distinct and ca. 1 mm wide. Gynoecium obovoid, ca. 

MAGNOLIACEAE 

2 × 1.5 cm, densely rust-colored hirsute; carpels many; ovules 

5–8 per carpel. Mature fruit unknown. Fl. May. 

Evergreen broad-leaved forests; ca. 1500 m. Yunnan (Maguan) 

[Vietnam]. 

Although the holotype of Manglietia pubipetala is conspecific 

with M. rufibarbata, the paratypes (T. X. Gao & D. Q. Zhu 05, Q. W. 

Zeng 67) are conspecific with M. zhengyiana. 

25. Manglietia longipedunculata Q. W. Zeng & Y. W. Law, 

Ann. Bot. Fenn. 41: 151. 2004. 

长梗木莲 chang geng mu lian 

Magnolia longipedunculata (Q. W. Zeng & Y. W. Law) V. 

S. Kumar. 

Trees, to 15 cm tall, to 50 cm d.b.h. Bark blackish brown. 

Vegetative buds, young twigs, petioles, peduncles, and leaf 

blade abaxial surfaces reddish brown erect villous. Twigs green 

when young, brown when old. Stipular scar 7–8 mm. Petiole 

2.5–3.5 cm, furrowed; leaf blade obovate-elliptic to elliptic, 13– 

19(–22) × 5–7 cm, thickly leathery, abaxially pale green, adaxially 

dark green, midvein abaxially prominent, secondary veins 

13 or 14 on each side of midvein, base cuneate, apex shortly 

acuminate to acuminate. Peduncle 5.5–6 cm, slender. Flowers 

fragrant. Tepals 9 or 11(or 12); outer 3 tepals elliptic, 10–10.5 × 

ca. 4 cm, abaxially pale green, adaxially white, 5-veined; middle 

3 tepals white, obovate-elliptic, 8–9 × ca. 3.5 cm, thickly 

fleshy; inner 3 tepals white, obovate-spatulate, 7–8 × 2.5–3 cm, 

thickly fleshy. Stamens numerous, red, ca. 2.5 cm; filaments 

purplish red, ca. 3 mm; connective red, exserted and forming a 

semiorbicular mucro; anthers yellow, ca. 2 cm. Gynoecium pale 

yellowish green, ovoid, ca. 3.5 × 3 cm; carpels 50–60; ovules 3 

or 4 per carpel; styles lanceolate, slightly curved; stigmas pale 

red, glabrous. Fruiting peduncle 5.5–6 cm. Fruit ovoid; mature 

carpels thickly woody, tuberculate, dehiscing along dorsal suture. 

Seeds compressed ovoid. Fl. May–Jun, fr. Aug–Sep. 

● Evergreen broad-leaved forests; 700–800 m. Guangdong 

(Longmen). 

26. Manglietia conifera Dandy, J. Bot. 68: 205. 1930. 

桂南木莲 gui nan mu lian 

Magnolia conifera (Dandy) V. S. Kumar; M. conifera var. 

chingii (Dandy) V. S. Kumar; Manglietia chingii Dandy; M. 

conifera subsp. chingii (Dandy) J. Li; M. tenuipes Dandy. 

Trees, to 20 m tall. Bark gray and smooth. Vegetative buds 

and young twigs reddish brown pubescent. Stipular scar 3–5 

mm. Petiole 2–3 cm, narrowly furrowed, at first appressed 

villous; leaf blade narrowly obovate to narrowly obovate-elliptic, 

12–15 × 2–5 cm, leathery, abaxially at first grayish green 

and hispidulous or glaucous, adaxially glabrous, secondary 

veins 12–14 on each side of midvein, base narrowly cuneate to 

cuneate, apex shortly acuminate to rotund. Peduncle 4–7 cm, 

slender, pendulous, with 1 bract scar basal to tepals. Flower 

buds ovoid. Tepals 9 or 11, 3 per whorl; outer 3 tepals usually 

green, elliptic, 4–5 × 2.5–2.8 cm, thinner, apex rotund; middle 3 

tepals obovate-elliptic, 5–5.5 × 2.5–3 cm, fleshy; inner 3 or 4 

tepals pure white, obovate-spoon-shaped, 4–4.5 × 1.5–2 cm,

fleshy. Stamens 1.5–2 cm; connective exserted and forming a 

triangular mucro; anthers 8–9 mm. Gynoecium 1.5–2 cm; basal 

carpels 0.8–1 cm, abaxially 3- or 4-furrowed; styles ca. 2 mm. 

Fruit ovoid, 4–5 cm; mature carpels tuberculate, apex shortly 

beaked; endotesta dotted. Fl. May–Jun, fr. Sep–Oct. 

Hills, wet places in valleys; 700–1300 m. N Guangdong, Guangxi, 

SE Guizhou, S Hunan, SE Yunnan [N Vietnam]. 

This species is grown as an ornamental. It is used medicinally and 

for timber. 

27. Manglietia ovoidea Hung T. Chang & B. L. Chen, Acta 

Sci. Nat. Univ. Sunyatseni 1988(1): 108. 1988. 

卵果木莲 luan guo mu lian 

Magnolia ovoidea (Hung T. Chang & B. L. Chen) V. S. 

Kumar. 

Trees, to 10 m tall, to 30 cm d.b.h. Twigs robust, at first 

with rust-colored trichomes but glabrescent. Stipular scar ca. 

1/2 as long as petiole. Petiole at first with rust-colored trichomes; 

leaf blade narrowly elliptic to elliptic-oblong, 13–14 × 

4–5 cm, leathery, abaxially pale green, adaxially dark green, 

midvein adaxially impressed, secondary and reticulate veins inconspicuous, 

base cuneate, apex shortly acute. Peduncle with 

trichomes, 1.5–2 cm. Tepals 11, pale yellowish green, fleshy; 

outer 3 tepals obovate, ca. 3.5 × 2.4 cm; innermost 2 tepals 

purplish, spatulate-obovate. Stamens numerous. Gynoecium 

broadly ovoid to subglobose, 3.2–3.6 cm. Fruiting peduncle 

with trichomes, 2.7–3.2 cm; mature carpels ellipsoid, abaxially 

papillate. Fl. Apr, fr. Oct–Nov. 

● Evergreen broad-leaved forests; 1700–2000 m. Guangxi, SE 

Yunnan. 

28. Manglietia glaucifolia Y. W. Law & Y. F. Wu, Guihaia 6: 

263. 1986. 

苍背木莲 cang bei mu lian 

Trees, to 8 m tall. Twigs yellowish brown, glabrous; vegetative 

buds glabrous. Stipular scar 1/3–1/2 as long as petiole. 

Petiole 1.5–2 cm; leaf blade narrowly obovate to narrowly 

elliptic, 9–18 × 2–3.5 cm, both surfaces glabrous, abaxially 

glaucous, adaxially deep green, midvein adaxially impressed, 

secondary and reticulate veins inconspicuous, secondary veins 

10–15 on each side of midvein, base cuneate, apex acuminate. 

MAGNOLIACEAE 

Peduncle ca. 4 cm. Tepals 9, white; tepals of outer whorls 3, 

oblong-obovate, 4–5 cm; tepals of inner whorls 6, obovate to 

obovate-spoon-shaped, fleshy. Stamens numerous, 1–1.5 cm; 

connective thick, exserted, apically tapered triangular; anthers 

8–10 mm. Gynoecium ellipsoid, 1.6–2 cm; carpels numerous; 

ovules 10 per carpel. Fruiting peduncle 4–6 cm. Fruit ovoid, 

4.5–5 cm, pendulous; mature carpels ellipsoid, 1.5–2 cm, abaxially 

papillate, apex shortly beaked. Seeds heart-shaped, ca. 7 × 

5 mm. Fl. May–Jun, fr. Aug. 

● Forests; 1500–1600 m. Guizhou. 

29. Manglietia decidua Q. Y. Zheng, J. Nanjing Forest. Univ. 

19(1): 46. 1995. 

落叶木莲 luo ye mu lian 

Magnolia decidua (Q. Y. Zheng) V. S. Kumar; Sinomanglietia 

glauca Z. X. Yu & Q. Y. Zheng. 

Trees, deciduous, to 15 m tall, to 45 cm d.b.h. Bark 

grayish white. Twigs purple, smooth, scattered with white suborbicular 

lenticels; vegetative buds subglabrous. Stipular scar 

1/4–1/2 as long as petiole. Leaves often clustered on apex of 

branches; petiole 2.5–4.5(–6) cm; leaf blade narrowly obovate, 

narrowly elliptic, or elliptic, ca. 20 × 3.5–7 cm, papery, abaxially 

with gray and white trichomes but later glabrescent, adaxially 

dark green and smooth, midvein adaxially slightly impressed, 

secondary veins 9–12 on each side of midvein, base 

cuneate, margin slightly revolute, apex obtuse to shortly acute. 

Flower buds narrowly ovoid, subtended by a spathaceous bract. 

Peduncle ca. 1 cm, at first with trichomes but later glabrescent. 

Tepals 15 or 16, in 5 or 6 whorls, pale yellow, lanceolate to narrowly 

obovate, becoming shorter and narrower inward, glabrous; 

outer 3 tepals 7–7.4 × 1.8–2 cm; innermost 3 or 4 tepals 

5.5–6 × 0.3–0.8 cm. Stamens 54–60, 6–7 mm; filaments ca. 1 

mm; connective exserted and forming a ca. 1 mm triangular 

mucro; anthers 4–5 mm. Gynoecium sessile, long ovoid, ca. 1 

cm; carpels 15–22; ovules 6–8 per carpel. Fruiting peduncle ca. 

1.6 cm. Fruit reddish brown when fresh but pale brown when 

dry, ovoid to subglobose, 4.7–7 × 4–4.5 cm; mature carpels 

long ovoid to long ellipsoid, 1.5–3 × 1–1.7 × 0.3–0.7 cm, 

woody, dehiscing along ventral sutures first then along dorsal 

suture. Seeds nearly cordate to subglobose, 7–11 × 7–11 × 5–8 

mm; testa red. Fl. May, fr. Sep–Oct. 

● Bamboo forests; 400–700 m. Jiangxi (Yichun). 

2. MAGNOLIA Linnaeus, Sp. Pl. 1: 535. 1753. 

木兰属 mu lan shu 

Trees or shrubs, evergreen. Bark usually gray and smooth or sometimes coarsely deeply furrowed. Twigs with annular stipular 

scar. Stipules membranous, free or adnate to petiole and leaving a stipular scar on petiole. Leaves spirally arranged, folded in bud, 

erect when young; leaf blade thickly papery or leathery, margin entire. Flowers terminal on terminal brachyblasts, solitary, bisexual, 

large, usually fragrant. Tepals 9–12, in 3 or 4 whorls, subequal. Stamens caducous; filaments flat; connective elongated, forming a 

short or long tip; anthers dehiscing introrsely. Gynoecium linked to androecium, without a gynophore. Carpels few to many, distinct; 

styles curved outward; ovules 2 per carpel or rarely in basal carpels 3 or 4; stigmas papillate, located in adaxial side of carpel. Fruit 

usually ovoid; mature carpels distinct, leathery or woody, dehiscing along dorsal sutures, apex long or shortly beaked. Seeds 1 or 2 

per carpel; testa orangish red or bright red, fleshy, oily; endotesta rigid, hilum connected to placentation by filiform funiculus. 

About 20 species: Central America, E and S North America, including Mexico and Antilles; one species (introduced) in China. 

61

62 

1. Magnolia grandiflora Linnaeus, Syst. Nat., ed. 10, 2: 1802. 

1759. 

荷花木兰 he hua mu lan 

Trees, to 30 m tall but usually shorter when cultivated. 

Bark pale brown to gray, thinly scaly fissured. Twigs, vegetative 

buds, petioles, and leaf blade abaxial surfaces densely 

brown to grayish brown shortly tomentose but abaxial surface 

of young leaf blades glabrous. Twigs thick and strong. Petiole 

1.5–4 cm, deeply furrowed, without a stipular scar; leaf blade 

elliptic, oblong-elliptic, or obovate-oblong, 10–20 × 4–7(–10) 

cm, thickly leathery, adaxially deep green and glossy, secondary 

veins 8–10 on each side of midvein, base cuneate, apex obtuse 

MAGNOLIACEAE 

to shortly mucronate. Flowers 15–20 cm in diam., fragrant. 

Tepals 9–12, white, obovate, 6–10 × 5–7 cm, thickly fleshy. 

Stamens ca. 2 cm; filaments purple, flat; connective exserted 

and forming a mucro; anthers introrse. Gynoecium ellipsoid, 

densely long tomentose; carpels ovoid, 1–1.5 cm; styles reclinate. 

Fruit terete to ovoid, 7–10 × 4–5 cm, densely brown 

to pale grayish yellow tomentose; mature carpels abaxially 

rounded, dehiscing along dorsal sutures, apex long beaked. 

Seeds ovoid, ca. 1.4 × 0.6 cm; testa red. Fl. May–Jun, fr. Sep– 

Oct. 2n = 114. 

Cultivated in provinces south of Chang Jiang [native to SE North 

America]. 

This species is widely cultivated as an ornamental and for timber. 

3. LIRIANTHE Spach, Hist. Nat. Vég. Phan. 7: 485. 1839. 

长喙木兰属 chang hui mu lan shu 

Trees or shrubs, evergreen. Bark usually gray, smooth or sometimes rough and furrowed. Stipules membranous, adnate to 

petiole and leaving a stipular scar on petiole. Leaves spirally arranged, folded in bud, erect when young; leaf blade thickly papery or 

leathery, margin entire. Flowers terminal on terminal brachyblasts, solitary, bisexual, large, usually fragrant. Spathaceous bracts 1 to 

several. Tepals 9–12, 3 per whorl, usually white, subequal. Stamens caducous; filaments flat; connective exserted and forming a 

mucro; anthers dehiscing introrsely. Gynoecium without a gynophore; carpels few or many, distinct; ovules 2(–4) per carpel. Fruit 

usually ellipsoid, both ends acute; mature carpels distinct, leathery or subwoody, all persistent on torus, dehiscing along dorsal 

sutures, apex beaked. 

About 12 species: SE Asia; eight species (five endemic) in China. 

“Magnolia menlunica Q. W. Zeng & Y. W. Law” (in Y. H. Liu, Magnolias China, 76. 2004) is of uncertain identity. It belongs to Lirianthe and is 

probably the same as an already published species but was not validly published because no Latin description or diagnosis was provided and no type 

was indicated (Vienna Code, Art. 36.1 and 37.1). 

1a. Stipular scar 1/3–1/2 as long as petiole .......................................................................................................................... 1. L. fistulosa 

1b. Stipular scar reaching apex of petiole. 

2a. Leaf blade large-sized, 20–70 × 7–22 cm ................................................................................................................... 2. L. henryi 

2b. Leaf blade medium-sized or small-sized, length not exceeding 30 cm, width usually not exceeding 10 cm. 

3a. Plants glabrous throughout. 

4a. Leaf blade slightly wavy adaxially, margin slightly revolute, secondary veins 8–10 on each side of 

midvein, reticulate veins sparse ....................................................................................................................... 7. L. coco 

4b. Leaf blade flat, margin not revolute, secondary veins 14–16 on each side of midvein, reticulate 

veins dense ............................................................................................................................................... 8. L. fujianensis 

3b. Plants ± with trichomes. 

5a. Flowers smaller; outer tepals shorter than 4 cm .................................................................................... 6. L. championii 

5b. Flowers larger; outer tepals longer than 5 cm. 

6a. Petiole 5–7 cm; leaf blade rounded or slightly cordate at base ........................................................... 3. L. delavayi 

6b. Petiole 1.5–3 cm; leaf blade cuneate or broadly cuneate at base. 

7a. Leaf blade pale green, abaxially with white curved trichomes ............................................. 4. L. odoratissima 

7b. Leaf blade glaucous, abaxially with dense white silky trichomes .......................................... 5. L. albosericea 

1. Lirianthe fistulosa (Finet & Gagnepain) N. H. Xia & C. Y. 

Wu, comb. nov. 

显脉木兰 xian mai mu lan 

Basionym: Talauma fistulosa Finet & Gagnepain, Bull. 

Soc. Bot. France 52(Mém. 4): 31. 1906; Magnolia championii 

Bentham subsp. fistulosa (Finet & Gagnepain) J. Li; M. fistulosa 

(Finet & Gagnepain) Dandy; M. phanerophlebia B. L. 

Chen; M. talaumoides Dandy. 

Shrubs or small trees, to 3 m tall, to 6 cm d.b.h., glabrous. 

Young twigs gray to yellowish gray when dry, 5–7 mm in 

diam., terete, smooth. Stipular scar 0.7–1.9(–2.5) cm. Petiole 

(1–)3–6(–7) cm, obviously thickened toward its base; leaf blade 

obovate to elliptic, 31–34.5(–36) × 9.5–14(–17) cm, leathery, 

abaxially greenish, adaxially dark green and shiny, midvein 

conspicuously elevated abaxially, secondary veins (11–)13– 

17(–19) on each side of midvein, adaxially much impressed, 

anastomosing with an intramarginal vein, and more prominent 

on both surfaces than coarsely netted reticulate veins, base cuneate 

and decurrent with 2 ridges into petiole, apex acuminate, 

acumen 1–2 cm. Peduncle ca. 2.5 × 0.4 cm, recurved; spatha-

ceous bracts 3, 1 toward base of peduncle, 1 at middle or 

slightly apically on peduncle, and 1 at base of perianth. Tepals 8 

or 9, subequal; outer 3 tepals greenish, thinly leathery; inner 5 

or 6 tepals white, fleshy. Stamens numerous. Gynoecium narrowly 

ovoid; carpels ca. 11. Fruit not seen. Fl. May. 

● Evergreen broad-leaved forests; 500–700 m. S Yunnan. 

2. Lirianthe henryi (Dunn) N. H. Xia & C. Y. Wu, comb. nov. 

大叶木兰 da ye mu lan 

Basionym: Magnolia henryi Dunn, J. Linn. Soc., Bot. 35: 

484. 1903; Manglietia wangii Hu & Chun; Talauma kerrii 

Craib. 

Trees, to 20 m tall. Young twigs with appressed trichomes 

but later glabrescent. Stipular scar nearly reaching apex of petiole. 

Petiole 4–11 cm, with appressed trichomes when young; 

leaf blade obovate-oblong, 20–70 × 7–22 cm, leathery, abaxially 

sparsely appressed pubescent, adaxially glabrous, midvein 

adaxially prominent, secondary veins 14–20 on each side of 

midvein, reticulate veins sparse and prominent on both surfaces 

when dry, base broadly cuneate, apex obtuse to acute. Peduncle 

pendulous, ca. 8 cm, with 2 bract scars, glabrous. Flower buds 

ovoid; spathaceous bracts glabrous. Tepals 9; tepals of outer 

whorl 3, green, ovate-elliptic, 6–6.5 × 3–3.5 cm, apex obtuse; 

tepals of middle and inner whorls milky white, obovate-spoonshaped, 

5.5–6 cm, thickly fleshy; tepals of inner whorl narrower 

and smaller. Stamens 1.2–1.5 cm; anthers 1–1.2 cm; connective 

exserted and forming a mucro. Gynoecium narrowly ellipsoid, 

3.5–4 cm, glabrous; carpels 85–95, narrowly long ellipsoid, 

1.5–2 cm × 2–3 mm, abaxially 4- or 5-ridged; styles 4–9 mm. 

Fruit ovoid-ellipsoid, 10–15 × 3–5 cm. Fl. May, fr. Aug–Sep. 

Evergreen broad-leaved forests; 500–1500 m. S Yunnan [Myanmar, 

Thailand]. 

3. Lirianthe delavayi (Franchet) N. H. Xia & C. Y. Wu, comb. 

nov. 

山玉兰 shan yu lan 

Basionym: Magnolia delavayi Franchet, Pl. Delavay. 1: 

33. 1889; M. carpunii M. S. Romanov & A. V. Bobrov. 

Trees, to 12 m tall, to 80 cm d.b.h. Bark gray to grayish 

black, coarse and fissured. Old twigs thick and strong, dotted 

with lenticels; young twigs olive green, pale yellowish brown 

pubescent. Stipular scar nearly reaching apex of petiole. Petiole 

5–7(–10) cm, densely villous; leaf blade ovate to ovate-oblong, 

10–20(–32) × 5–10(–20) cm, leathery, abaxially densely interwoven 

tomentose and white powdery but later only with residual 

trichomes on veins, adaxially covered with curved long 

trichomes at first but later glabrescent, midvein flat to impressed 

and with residual trichomes, secondary veins 11–16 on 

each side of midvein, reticulate veins dense and prominent on 

both surfaces when dry, base broadly rounded to sometimes 

slightly cordate, margin wavy, apex obtuse to rarely emarginate. 

Peduncle erect, 3–4 cm. Flowers fragrant, cupular, 15–20 cm in 

diam. Tepals 9 or 10; tepals of outer whorl pale green, oblong, 

6–8(–10) × 2–3(–4) cm, margin revolute; tepals of inner 2 

whorls milky white or red, obovate-spoon-shaped, 8–11 × 2.5– 

3.5 cm; tepals of inner whorl narrower. Stamens ca. 210, 1.8– 

2.5 cm; connective exserted and forming a sharp triangular tip; 

MAGNOLIACEAE 

anthers divergent. Gynoecium ovoid, 3–4 cm, finely yellow 

villous, apex acute; carpels ca. 100. Fruit ovoid-ellipsoid, 9– 

15(–20) cm; mature carpels narrowly ellipsoid, finely yellow 

villous, completely dehiscing along dorsal suture, apical beak 

reflexed. Fl. Apr–Jun, fr. Aug–Oct. 2n = 38*. 

● Forests, limestone areas, wet slopes; 1500–2800 m. Guizhou, S 

Sichuan, Yunnan. 


4. Lirianthe odoratissima (Y. W. Law & R. Z. Zhou) N. H. 

Xia & C. Y. Wu, comb. nov. 

馨香木兰 xin xiang mu lan 

Basionym: Magnolia odoratissima Y. W. Law & R. Z. 

Zhou, Bull. Bot. Res., Harbin 6(2): 139. 1986. 

Trees, 5–6 m tall. Twigs pale grayish brown; young twigs 

densely white villous. Stipules nearly reaching apex of petiole. 

Leaf blade ovate-elliptic, elliptic, or oblong-elliptic, 8–14(–30) 

× 4–7(–10) cm, leathery, abaxially pale green and with white 

curved trichomes, adaxially dark green, secondary veins 9–13 

on each side of midvein, adaxially impressed, and prominent on 

both surfaces when dry, base cuneate to broadly cuneate, apex 

acuminate to shortly acute. Flower buds ovoid, 3–3.5 × 2–2.2 

cm. Flowers erect, very fragrant. Tepals 9, white, curved, fleshy; 

tepals of outer whorl obovate to oblong, 5–6 × 2.5–3 cm, thinner, 

9-veined; tepals of middle whorl obovate, 5–6 × 2–3 cm; 

tepals of inner whorl obovate-spoon-shaped, 4–4.5 × 2–2.5 cm. 

Stamens ca. 175, ca. 3 cm; filaments ca. 5 mm; connective exserted 

and forming a triangular mucro; anthers ca. 2 cm, dehiscing 

introrsely. Fruit not seen. Fl. May, fr. Sep. 

● Evergreen broad-leaved forests; ca. 1100 m. SE Yunnan 

(Guangnan). 

5. Lirianthe albosericea (Chun & C. H. Tsoong) N. H. Xia & 

C. Y. Wu, comb. nov. 

绢毛木兰 juan mao mu lan 

Basionym: Magnolia albosericea Chun & C. H. Tsoong, 

Acta Phytotax. Sin. 9: 117. 1964. 

Trees, to 8 m tall. Bark grayish white, young part densely 

white sericeous. Stipular scar reaching apex of petiole. Petiole 

thick and strong; leaf blade elliptic, narrowly elliptic, or narrowly 

obovate-elliptic, 18–30(–40) × 6–9(–15) cm, abaxially 

glaucous and white villous, adaxially dark green, midvein 

sparsely long sericeous on both surfaces, secondary veins 15– 

20 on each side of midvein, base cuneate to narrowly cuneate, 

apex acuminate. Peduncle 1.5–2 cm, densely sericeous, with 3 

bract scars. Flower buds ovoid, 4–5 cm. Tepals 9, white; tepals 

of outer whorl oblong, 4–4.6 cm, thinner, abaxially densely 

papillate, white sericeous near base; tepals of middle whorl 4–5 

cm, abaxially white sericeous near base; tepals of inner 2 

whorls obovate, thickly fleshy, base clawed; tepals of innermost 

whorl 3–4 cm. Stamens 0.9–1.2 cm; connective exserted and 

forming a mucro; anthers 6–8 mm, dehiscing introrsely. Carpels 

narrowly ellipsoid, 0.8–1.3 cm, abaxially with brown trichomes 

and inconspicuously papillate, shallow furrow reaching to apex 

in middle. Fruit dark brown, ellipsoid to obovoid, 4.5–8 cm; 

mature carpels narrowly ellipsoid, 2–2.5 cm, leathery, abaxially 

pale brown pubescent and papillate, apex with an outcurved 5– 

63

64 

7 mm sharp beak. Seeds red, irregularly triangular, 7–10 × 7–10 

mm, laterally flat, adaxially shallowly and narrowly furrowed, 

base cuneate, apex finely pitted. Fl. Apr–May, fr. Aug–Sep. 2n 

= 38*. 

● Evergreen broad-leaved forests, slopes, ravines; 500–800 m. 

Hainan (Baoting, Diaoluo Shan). 


6. Lirianthe championii (Bentham) N. H. Xia & C. Y. Wu, 

comb. nov. 

香港木兰 xiang gang mu lan 

Basionym: Magnolia championii Bentham, Fl. Hongk. 8. 

1861 [“championi”]; M. liliifera Baillon var. championii (Bentham) 

Pampanini; M. mulunica Y. W. Law & Q. W. Zeng; M. 

paenetalauma Dandy; M. pumila Andrews var. championii 

(Bentham) Finet & Gagnepain; M. shangsiensis Y. W. Law et 

al.; M. tenuicarpella Hung T. Chang. 

Shrubs or small trees. Young twigs, petiole adaxial surfaces, 

leaf blade abaxial surface of bases and midveins, and peduncles 

with pale brown appressed long trichomes but very 

soon glabrescent. Young twigs green. Stipular scar nearly 

reaching apex of petiole. Petiole 0.5–1.5 cm; leaf blade elliptic, 

narrowly oblong-elliptic, or narrowly obovate-elliptic, 7– 

14(–20) × 2–4.5(–6.5) cm, leathery, abaxially pale green, adaxially 

deep green and glossy, secondary veins 8–12 on each side 

of midvein, divergent near edge, and curving and circling apically, 

base cuneate to narrowly cuneate and slightly decurrent 

on petiole, apex acuminate, cuspidate, or rarely acute. Peduncle 

1–1.5 cm, with pale yellow long trichomes; spathaceous bracts 

3 or 4, apical-most bract scar ca. 1 cm basal to tepals. Flowers 

erect, very fragrant. Tepals 9; outer 3 tepals pale green, oblongelliptic, 

3.5–4 × ca. 2 cm; tepals of inner 2 whorls white, obovate, 

2–2.5 × ca. 1.5 cm, fleshy, apex sometimes emarginate. 

Stamens 7–9 mm; connective exserted and forming a triangular 

mucro; anthers 6–7 mm, dehiscing introrsely. Gynoecium narrowly 

obovoid, 1–1.4 cm, white villous; carpels 8–9 mm, furrows 

abaxially reaching to base of style; ovules 2 per carpel, 

parallel. Fruit 3–4.5 cm; mature carpels ca. 1 cm, with ca. 2 mm 

apical beaks. Seeds narrowly ellipsoid or irregularly ovoid, 8– 

12 × 4–6 mm. Fl. Apr–Jun, fr. Sep–Oct. 

Evergreen broad-leaved forests, sandy soil, hills, along riversides; 

near sea level to 1000 m. Guangdong, Guangxi, S Guizhou, Hainan [N 

Vietnam]. 

“Magnolia bawangensis Y. W. Law & R. Z. Zhou” (in Y. H. Liu, 

Magnolias China, 34. 2004) belongs here but was not validly published 

because no Latin description or diagnosis was provided and no type was 

indicated (Vienna Code, Art. 36.1 and 37.1). 

One of us (Xia) considers that Magnolia mulunica is a distinct 

species of Lirianthe. 

7. Lirianthe coco (Loureiro) N. H. Xia & C. Y. Wu, comb. 

nov. 

夜香木兰 ye xiang mu lan 

MAGNOLIACEAE 

Basionym: Liriodendron coco Loureiro, Fl. Cochinch. 1: 

347. 1790; Magnolia coco (Loureiro) Candolle; M. pumila Andrews; 

Talauma coco (Loureiro) Merrill; T. pumila (Andrews) 

Blume. 

Trees or shrubs, 2–4 m tall, glabrous. Bark gray. Twigs 

green, smooth, slightly ridged, glossy. Stipular scar reaching 

apex of petiole. Petiole 5–10 mm; leaf blade elliptic, narrowly 

elliptic, or obovate-elliptic, 7–14(–28) × 2–4.5(–9) cm, leathery, 

adaxially deep green, glossy, and slightly wavy wrinkled, 


sparse, base cuneate, margin slightly revolute, apex long acuminate. 

Peduncle pendulous, with 3 or 4 bract scars. Flowers globose, 

3–4 cm in diam. Tepals 9, obovate, fleshy, adaxially concave; 

3 tepals of outer whorl greenish, ca. 2 cm, 5-veined; 

tepals of inner 2 whorls pure white, 3–4 × ca. 4 cm. Stamens 

4–6 mm; filaments white, ca. 2 mm; connective exserted and 

forming a mucro; anthers ca. 3 mm. Gynoecium green, ovoid, 

1.5–2 cm; carpels ca. 10, narrowly ovoid, 5–6 mm, abaxially 

with 1 furrow downward to base of style; styles short, deciduous 

after anthesis and leaving carpel with a truncate apex. 

Fruit ca. 3 cm; mature carpels nearly woody. Seeds ovoid, ca. 

1 cm, apex laterally pitted adaxially, ventral furrow inconspicuous, 

base cuneate; endotesta brown. Fl. summer (all year in 

Guangzhou, Guangdong), fr. autumn. 2n = 38. 

Forests; 600–900 m. Fujian, Guangdong, Guangxi, Taiwan, Yunnan, 

Zhejiang [Vietnam]. 

This species is grown as an ornamental and used medicinally. 

8. Lirianthe fujianensis N. H. Xia & C. Y. Wu, nom. nov. 

福建木兰 fu jian mu lan 

Replaced synonym: Magnolia fujianensis R. Z. Zhou, J. 

Trop. Subtrop. Bot. 12: 473. 2004, not Magnolia fujianensis (Q. 

F. Zheng) Figlar, Proc. Int. Symp. Fam. Magnoliac. 1998, 22. 

2000. 

Trees, 8–10 m tall, 1.5–2 cm d.b.h., glabrous throughout. 

Twigs green when young, brown when old. Stipular scar 

reaching apex of petiole, margin prominent. Petiole 1–1.5 cm; 

leaf blade long ovate-elliptic to long elliptic, 12–20 × 5.5–6.5 

cm, leathery, abaxially green, adaxially dark green and shiny, 


prominent on both surfaces, base broadly cuneate, apex long 

acuminate. Brachyblasts ca. 3.5 cm, green, curved downward at 

anthesis, glabrous. Flowers fragrant. Tepals 9, in 3 whorls; outer 

3 tepals pale green, oblong-elliptic, 4–4.2 × 2–2.3 mm; middle 

3 tepals white, obovate-spatulate, 4–4.5 × 2.3–2.5 mm, fleshy; 

inner 3 tepals white, obovate-spatulate, 3–3.5 × 1.6–2 mm, 

fleshy. Androecium white; stamens ca. 128, 6–7 mm; connective 

exserted, apex obtuse; anthers 5–6 mm. Gynoecium white; 

carpels 16–18, abaxially tuberculate; styles purple. Fruit not 

seen. Fl. Apr–May and Aug–Sep. 

● Forests; 300–500 m. Fujian (Nanping). 

4. HOUPOËA N. H. Xia & C. Y. Wu, nom. nov. 

厚朴属 hou po shu 

Replaced synonym: Magnolia sect. Rytidospermum Spach, Hist. Nat. Vég. Phan. 7: 474. 1839, not Rhytispermum Link, Hand-

MAGNOLIACEAE 

buch 1: 579. 1829, nor Rhytidospermum Schultz Bipontinus in Webb & Berthelot, Hist. Nat. Iles Canaries 3(2, 2): 277. 1844, nor 

Rytidosperma Steudel, Syn. Pl. Glum. 1: 425. 1854. 

Trees or shrubs, deciduous. Bark usually gray, smooth. Twigs with annular stipular scar. Stipules membranous, adnate to petiole, 

leaving stipular scar on petiole. Leaves spirally arranged, often fascicled and pseudowhorled, folded in bud, erect when young; leaf 

blade membranous or thickly papery, margin entire or rarely shallowly 2-lobed at apex. Flowers terminal, solitary, bisexual, large, 

fragrant. Spathaceous bract 1. Tepals 9–12, in 3 or 4 whorls, usually white, subequal. Stamens caducous; filaments flat; connective 

exserted and forming a short mucro; anthers dehiscing introrsely. Gynoecium without a gynophore; carpels numerous, distinct; 

ovules usually 2(–4) per carpel; styles curved outward, adaxially papillate. Fruit usually cylindric when mature; mature carpels distinct, 

leathery or subwoody, dehiscing along dorsal sutures, persistent on torus, apex long beaked. 

Nine species: E North America and temperate regions of SE Asia; three species (one endemic, one introduced) in China. 

1a. Inner and outer tepals patent at anthesis; basal mature carpels decurrent along fruit axis and tapered at base ............ 1. H. obovata 

1b. Inner tepals erect and outer ones reflexed at anthesis; basal mature carpels not decurrent along fruit axis but rotund 

at base. 

2a. Vegetative buds glabrous, leaf abaxial surface gray villous; leaf blade cuneate at base; mature carpels with 

a 3–4 mm beak ...................................................................................................................................................... 2. H. officinalis 

2b. Vegetative buds and abaxial surface of young leaves covered with reddish brown and curved indumentum; 

leaf blade broadly cuneate, obtuse, or cordate at base; mature carpels with a 5–8 mm beak ................................. 3. H. rostrata 

1. Houpoëa obovata (Thunberg) N. H. Xia & C. Y. Wu, comb. 

nov. 

日本厚朴 ri ben hou po 

Basionym: Magnolia obovata Thunberg, Trans. Linn. Soc. 

London 2: 336. 1794; Liriodendron liliiflorum Steudel; M. glauca 

Thunberg (1784), not (Linnaeus) Linnaeus (1759); M. honogi 

P. Parmentier; M. hoonokii Siebold; M. hypoleuca Siebold 

& Zuccarini; M. hypoleuca var. concolor Siebold & Zuccarini; 

Yulania japonica Spach var. obovata (Thunberg) P. Parmentier. 

Trees, to 30 m tall. Twigs green at first then becoming 

purple, glabrous; vegetative buds glabrous. Stipular scar ca. 1/2 

as long or longer than petiole. Leaves clustered on twigs; petiole 

2.5–4.5(–7) cm, at first white villous; leaf blade obovate, 

20–38(–45) × 12–18(–20) cm, abaxially glaucous, adaxially 

green and white curved villous, secondary veins 20–24 on each 

side of midvein, base cuneate to broadly cuneate, apex shortly 

acute. Flowers cupular, 14–20 cm in diam., erect, very fragrant. 

Tepals 9–12, milky white; outer 3 tepals yellowish green but 

outside flushed red, shorter; inner 6 or 9 tepals obovate to elliptic-obovate, 

8.5–12 × 1.5–4.5 cm. Stamens 1.5–2 cm; filaments 

purplish red; connective exserted and forming a mucro. Gynoecium 

ca. 3 cm. Fruit red when mature, terete, 12–20 × ca. 6 cm, 

pendulous; mature carpels long beaked, basal ones decurrent 

along receptacles and becoming cuneate at base; testa bright 

red; endotesta black. Fl. Jun–Jul, fr. Sep–Oct. 

Cultivated in NE China as well as in Guangdong [native to Japan]. 


for timber. 

2. Houpoëa officinalis (Rehder & E. H. Wilson) N. H. Xia & 

C. Y. Wu, comb. nov. 

厚朴 hou po 

Basionym: Magnolia officinalis Rehder & E. H. Wilson in 

Sargent, Pl. Wilson. 1: 391. 1913; M. cathayana D. L. Fu & T. 

B. Chao; M. officinalis subsp. biloba (Rehder & E. H. Wilson) 

Y. W. Law; M. officinalis var. biloba Rehder & E. H. Wilson; 

M. officinalis var. glabra D. L. Fu et al.; M. officinalis var. pubescens 

C. Y. Deng. 

Trees, to 20 m tall. Bark brown, thick, not fissured. Twigs 

pale yellow to grayish yellow, thick and strong, sericeous at 

first; terminal buds ovoid-conical, large, glabrous. Stipular scar 

ca. 2/3 as long as petiole. Petiole thick and strong, 2.5–4 cm. 

Leaves 7–9 clustered on twig apex; leaf blade oblong-obovate, 

22–45 × 10–24 cm, nearly leathery, abaxially grayish green, 

glaucous, and gray villous, adaxially green and glabrous, base 

cuneate, margin entire or slightly wavy, apex shortly acute, 

obtuse, emarginate, or sometimes 2-lobed. Peduncle short and 

thick, villous; bract scar ca. 1 cm basal to tepals. Flowers 10–15 

cm in diam., fragrant. Tepals 9–12(–17), white, thickly fleshy; 

outer 3 tepals pale green, oblong-obovate, 8–10 × 4–5 cm, usually 

reflexed at anthesis; tepals of inner 2 whorls obovatespoon-shaped, 

8–8.5 × 3–4.5 cm, base clawed; inner tepals 7– 

8.5 cm, erect at anthesis. Stamens numerous, 2–3 cm; filaments 

red, 4–12 mm; anthers 1.2–1.5 cm, dehiscing introrsely. Gynoecium 

ellipsoid-ovoid, 2.5–3 cm. Fruit ellipsoid-ovoid, 9–15 

cm; mature carpels with a 3–4 mm beak. Seeds triangular-obovoid, 

ca. 1 cm. Fl. May–Jun, fr. Aug–Oct. 2n = 38*. 

● Forests; 300–1500 m. Anhui, Fujian, SE Gansu, N Guangdong, 

Guangxi, NE Guizhou, SE Henan, W Hubei, NW Hunan, Jiangxi, S 

Shaanxi, E and S Sichuan, Zhejiang. 


for timber. 

3. Houpoëa rostrata (W. W. Smith) N. H. Xia & C. Y. Wu, 

comb. nov. 

长喙厚朴 chang hui hou po 

Basionym: Magnolia rostrata W. W. Smith, Notes Roy. 

Bot. Gard. Edinburgh 12: 213. 1920. 

Trees, to 25 m tall. Bark pale gray. Vegetative buds and 

young twigs reddish brown curved villous. Twigs green at first 

then turning brown, strong and thick; axillary vegetative 

buds grayish green, terete, glabrous. Stipular scar significantly 

prominent, nearly 1/3–2/3 as long as petiole. Leaves 7–9 clus- 

65

66 

tered on twig apex; petiole strong and thick, 4–7 cm, at first 

with trichomes; leaf blade obovate to broadly obovate, 34–50 

× 21–23 cm, thickly papery, abaxially glaucous and reddish 

brown curved villous, adaxially green and glossy, secondary 

veins 28–30 on each side of midvein, base broadly cuneate to 

cordate, apex broadly rotund, shortly acute, or sometimes 2cleft. 

Flowers appearing after leaves, 8–9 cm in diam., fragrant. 

Tepals 9–12; tepals of outer whorl outside green flushed 

slightly pink and inside pink, oblong-elliptic, 8–13 × ca. 5.6 cm, 

reflexed; tepals of inner 2 whorls purely white, obovate-spoon- 

MAGNOLIACEAE 

5. TALAUMA Jussieu, Gen. Pl. 281. 1789. 

盖裂木属 gai lie mu shu 

shaped, 12–14 cm, erect, base clawed. Stamens purplish red; 

filaments ca. 5 mm; connective exserted and forming a triangular 

mucro; anthers ca. 1 cm. Gynoecium cylindric. Fruit terete, 

11–20 × ca. 4 cm, erect, base broadly rounded, apex gradually 

narrowing; mature carpels with a 5–8 mm curved beak. 

Seeds ca. 7 × 5 mm, flat. Fl. May–Jul, fr. Sep–Oct. 

Broad-leaved forests; 2100–3000 m. SE Xizang (Mêdog), W Yunnan 

[NE Myanmar]. 

This species is grown as an ornamental and is used medicinally. 

Trees or shrubs, evergreen. Stipules adnate to petiole. Young leaves folded in bud; petiole with stipular scar. Flowers terminal, 

solitary, bisexual. Tepals 9–15, in 3 or 4 whorls, subequal. Staminal connective exserted and forming a mucro; anthers dehiscing introrsely. 

Gynoecium sessile; carpels numerous or few, at least connate at base. Mature carpels woody or bony, peripherally dehiscing, 

base persistent on torus, apical part single or irregularly massive deciduous. Seeds 1 or 2 per carpel, pendulous. 

About 60 species: SE Asia and tropical America; one species in China. 

1. Talauma hodgsonii J. D. Hooker & Thomson, Fl. Ind. 1: 74. 

1855. 

盖裂木 gai lie mu 

Magnolia candollii (Blume) H. Keng var. obovata (Korthals) 

Nooteboom; M. hodgsonii (J. D. Hooker & Thomson) H. 

Keng; M. liliifera (Linnaeus) Baillon var. obovata (Korthals) 

Govaerts. 

Trees, to 15 m tall. Twigs slightly glaucous, glabrous. Stipular 

scar nearly reaching apex of petiole. Petiole 5–6 cm; leaf 

blade obovate-oblong, 20–50 × 10–13 cm, leathery, secondary 

veins 10–20 on each side of midvein, base cuneate, apex obtuse 

to acuminate. Peduncle thick and strong, 1.5–2 × ca. 1.5 cm, 

with 1 or 2 bract scars; spathaceous bracts purple. Tepals 9, 

thickly fleshy; outer 3 tepals grassy green outside, ovate, ca. 9 

cm; tepals of middle and inner whorls milky white; inner tepals 

smallest. Fruit ovoid, 13–15 cm; mature carpels 40–80, narrowly 

ellipsoid to ovoid, 2.5–4 cm, apex long tipped. Fl. Apr– 

May, fr. Aug. 2n = 38. 

Forests; 800–1500 m. S Xizang, SE Yunnan [Bhutan, NE India, N 

Myanmar, Nepal, Thailand]. 

6. OYAMA (Nakai) N. H. Xia & C. Y. Wu, stat. nov. 

天女花属 tian nü hua shu 

Basionym: Magnolia sect. Oyama Nakai, Fl. Sylv. Kor. 20: 117. 1933; M. sect. Gophantera Dandy. 

Trees or shrubs, deciduous. Bark usually gray, smooth or sometimes coarse and deeply furrowed. Twigs with annular stipular 

scar. Leaves at first distichous, later spirally arranged, folded in bud, erect when young; leaf blade membranous or papery, abaxially 

grayish green or glaucous and pubescent, margin entire. Flowers terminal, solitary, bisexual, often overtopped by a growing axillary 

vegetative bud and thus seemingly axillary. Peduncle slender, nodding but pendulous or erect at anthesis. Tepals 9–12, 3 per whorl, 

usually white, subequal. Stamens red, caducous; filaments flat; connective not exserted, apex obtuse or emarginate; anthers dehiscing 

introrsely. Gynoecium without a gynophore; carpels few to many, distinct; ovules usually 2 per carpel; styles curved outward, adaxially 

papillate. Fruit ellipsoid when mature, pendulous; mature carpels distinct, leathery or subwoody, dehiscing along dorsal sutures, 

persistent on torus, apex shortly beaked. 

Four species: E and SE Asia; four species (two endemic) in China. 

1a. Twigs purplish red or purplish brown; leaves widest toward base from middle; stipular scar nearly as long as petiole. 

2a. Leaf blade oblong-ovate to elliptic-ovate, 6.5–12 cm, abaxially gray appressed villous; flowers pendulous 

during anthesis .......................................................................................................................................................... 1. O. wilsonii 

2b. Leaf blade elliptic-ovate to ovate, 10–24 cm, abaxially reddish brown and with long curved trichomes; 

flowers slightly pendulous or erect during anthesis ................................................................................................. 2. O. globosa 

1b. Twigs pale grayish yellow or grayish brown; leaves widest toward apex from middle; stipular scar 1/2–2/3 as 

long as petiole. 

3a. Leaf blade obovate, secondary veins 9–13 on each side of midvein, abaxially pale yellow villous; stipular 

scar nearly 2/3 as long as petiole; flowers pendulous during anthesis .................................................................... 3. O. sinensis 

3b. Leaf blade obovate to broadly obovate, secondary veins 6–8 on each side of midvein, abaxial surface with 

brown and white multicellular trichomes and scattered with golden yellow dots; stipular scar nearly 1/2 as 

long as petiole; flowers slightly pendulous during anthesis .................................................................................. 4. O. sieboldii

1. Oyama wilsonii (Finet & Gagnepain) N. H. Xia & C. Y. Wu, 

comb. nov. 

西康天女花 xi kang tian nü hua 

Basionym: Magnolia parviflora Blume var. wilsonii Finet 

& Gagnepain, Bull. Soc. Bot. France 52(Mém. 4): 39. 1906 

[“wilsoni”]; M. globosa J. D. Hooker & Thomson subsp. 

wilsonii (Finet & Gagnepain) J. Li; M. liliifera Baillon var. 

taliensis (W. W. Smith) Pampanini; M. nicholsoniana Rehder & 

E. H. Wilson; M. taliensis W. W. Smith; M. wilsonii (Finet & 

Gagnepain) Rehder; M. wilsonii f. nicholsoniana (Rehder & E. 

H. Wilson) Rehder; M. wilsonii f. taliensis (W. W. Smith) 

Rehder. 

Shrubs or small trees, rarely to 8 m tall. Bark grayish 

brown, conspicuously lenticellate. Old twigs gray; annual twigs 

purplish red, at first brown villous. Stipular scar 4/5–5/6 as long 

as petiole. Petiole (0.5–)1–3(–5) cm, densely brown villous; 

leaf blade elliptic-ovate to oblong-ovate, 6.5–12(–20) × 3–5(–8) 

cm, papery, abaxially silvery gray appressed villous, adaxially 

grayish yellow pubescent along midvein and secondary veins, 

trichomes on midvein and secondary veins usually brown, base 

rounded to sometimes slightly cordate, apex acute to acuminate. 

Peduncle pendulous, 1.5–5 cm, brown villous. Flowers 

appearing at same time as leaves, cupular at first, plate-shaped 

at anthesis, 10–12 cm in diam., fragrant. Tepals 9(–12), white; 

outer 3 tepals broadly spoon-shaped to obovate, 4–6.5(–7.5) × 

3–4.5(–5.5) cm, subequal to inner ones, base clawed, apex 

rounded. Stamens purplish red, 0.8–1.2 cm; filaments red, 1.5– 

2 mm; connective rounded or emarginate at apex; thecae distinct, 

8–9 mm. Gynoecium green, ovoid-cylindric, 1.5–2 cm; 

carpels ca. 1 cm. Fruit red and then becoming purple when mature, 

terete, 6–10 × 2–3 cm, pendulous; mature carpels beaked. 

Seeds obovoid, ca. 6 mm. Fl. May–Jun, fr. Sep–Oct. 2n = 38*. 

● Forests; 1900–3000 m. Guizhou, C and W Sichuan, N Yunnan. 

This species is grown as an ornamental and is used medicinally. 

2. Oyama globosa (J. D. Hooker & Thomson) N. H. Xia & C. 

Y. Wu, comb. nov. 

毛叶天女花 mao ye tian nü hua 

Basionym: Magnolia globosa J. D. Hooker & Thomson, 

Fl. Ind. 1: 77. 1855; M. tsarongensis W. W. Smith; Yulania 

japonica Spach var. globosa (J. D. Hooker & Thomson) P. 

Parmentier. 

Trees, to 10 m tall. Bark black, smooth. Young twigs, 

young leaf blade adaxial midvein and secondary veins, leaf 

blade abaxial surfaces, petioles, and peduncles reddish brown 

and curved villous. Twigs reddish brown to dark purplish red. 

Stipular scar nearly reaching petiole apex. Petiole 3–3.5 cm; 

leaf blade elliptic-ovate, broadly ovate, or elliptic, 10–24 × 5– 

14 cm, membranous, adaxially deep green, secondary veins 8– 

12 on each side of midvein, base rounded to subcordate, apex 

acute to obtuse. Peduncle 5–6.5(–7.5) cm, curved to erect, with 

a bract scar at ca. 6 mm basal to tepals. Flowers appearing at 

same time as leaves, cupular, 6–7.6 cm in diam., fragrant. 

Tepals 9(or 10), creamy yellowish white, obovate to elliptic, 4– 

7.5 × 2–3 cm, subequal, apex rounded. Stamens dark red, 1.2– 

MAGNOLIACEAE 

1.7 cm; thecae connate to each other, apex slightly emarginate. 

Gynoecium green, ca. 3.5 cm. Fruiting peduncle thick and 

strong, densely villous. Fruit red when mature and later becoming 

reddish brown, terete, 6–8 cm, apex rounded; mature 

carpels with curved beaks. Seeds black, cordate, 7–8 × 7–9 mm. 

Fl. May–Jul, fr. Aug–Sep. 

Forests; 1900–3300 m. W Sichuan, S and SE Xizang, Yunnan 

[Bhutan, India (E Sikkim), N Myanmar]. 

3. Oyama sinensis (Rehder & E. H. Wilson) N. H. Xia & C. Y. 

Wu, comb. nov. 

圆叶天女花 yuan ye tian nü hua 

Basionym: Magnolia globosa J. D. Hooker & Thomson 

var. sinensis Rehder & E. H. Wilson, Sargentia 1: 393. 1913; M. 

sieboldii K. Koch subsp. sinensis (Rehder & E. H. Wilson) 

Spongberg; M. sinensis (Rehder & E. H. Wilson) Stapf. 

Shrubs, to 6 m tall. Bark pale brown. Twigs slender; annual 

twigs pale grayish yellow, 3–4 mm in diam., grayish yellow 

appressed villous; biennial twigs grayish white or pale yellow. 

Stipular scar nearly 2/3 as long as petiole. Petiole 1.5–4(–8) cm, 

pale yellow appressed villous; leaf blade obovate, broadly obovate, 

obovate-elliptic, or rarely suborbicular, 8–13(–26) × 6– 

10(–19) cm, papery, abaxially pale grayish yellow villous, 

adaxially subglabrous, midvein and secondary veins pale yellow 

appressed villous, secondary veins 9–13 on each side of 

midvein, base rounded and truncate, broadly cuneate, or sometimes 

slightly cordate, apex broadly rounded to shortly acute. 

Peduncle 3–5 cm, curved downward, pale yellow appressed 

villous at first. Flowers appearing at same time as leaves, cupular, 

8–12(–15) cm in diam., fragrant. Tepals 9(or 10), white; 

outer 3 tepals ovate to elliptic, shorter and smaller; inner tepals 

broadly obovate, 6–7.5 cm, larger. Stamens 0.9–1.3 cm; filaments 

purplish red; anthers 7–10 mm, thecae distinct, apex 

rounded to rarely slightly apiculate. Gynoecium green, narrowly 

obovoid-ellipsoid, ca. 1.5 mm. Fruit red, terete, 3– 

5.5(–7.5) × 2–2.5 cm; mature carpels narrowly ellipsoid, only 

dehiscing along dorsal sutures, beaks curved outward. Seeds 

nearly cordate, 5–6 × 6–7 mm; testa bright red; endotesta black. 

Fl. May–Jun, fr. Sep–Oct. 

● Forests; ca. 2600 m. C, N, and S Sichuan. 


4. Oyama sieboldii (K. Koch) N. H. Xia & C. Y. Wu, comb. 

nov. 

天女花 tian nü hua 

Basionym: Magnolia sieboldii K. Koch, Hort. Dendrol. 4. 

1853, based on M. parviflora Siebold & Zuccarini, Abh. Math.- 

Phys. Cl. Königl. Bayer. Akad. Wiss. 4(2): 187. 1845, not 

Blume, Bijdr. 9. 1825; M. oyama Millais, nom. illeg. superfl.; 

M. verecunda Koidzumi, nom. illeg. superfl. 

Trees, to 10 m tall. Annual twigs pale grayish brown, slender, 

ca. 3 mm in diam., silvery gray appressed villous at first. 

Stipular scar nearly 1/2 as long as petiole. Petiole 1–4(–6.5) cm, 

brown and white appressed villous; leaf blade obovate to 

broadly obovate, (6–)9–15(–25) × 4–9(–12) cm, membranous, 

abaxially glaucous and usually covered with brown and white 

multicellular trichomes, scattered golden yellow dots, and 

67

68 

white long sericeous hairs along midvein and secondary veins, 

adaxially curved pilose along midvein and secondary veins, 

secondary veins 6–8 on each side of midvein, base broadly 

cuneate, truncate, or subcordate, apex abruptly narrowly acute 

to shortly acuminate. Peduncle 3–7 cm, densely brown and 

grayish white appressed villous. Flowers appearing at same 

time as leaves, cupular at first but plate-shaped at anthesis, 7–10 

cm in diam., erect or slightly nodding, fragrant. Tepals 9, white, 

subequal; outer 3 tepals oblong-obovate to obovate, 4–6 × 2.5– 

3.5 cm, base with white trichomes, apex broadly rounded to 

rounded; inner 6 tepals smaller, base gradually narrowing to 

shortly clawed. Stamens purplish red, 0.9–1.1 cm; connective 

MAGNOLIACEAE 

not exserted; filaments 3–4 mm; anthers ca. 6 mm, thecae 

adnate, apex slightly emarginate. Gynoecium green, ellipsoid, 

ca. 1.5 cm. Fruit red when mature, obovoid to ellipsoid, 2–7 

cm; mature carpels narrowly ellipsoid, ca. 1 cm, dehiscing into 

2 valves along dorsal sutures, apex with a ca. 2 mm beak. Seeds 

cordate, 6–7 × 6–7 mm, apex finely tipped; testa red; endotesta 

brown. Fl. Mar–Apr, fr. Sep–Oct. 

Forests; 1600–2000 m. Anhui, N Fujian, Guangxi, Guizhou, Hebei, 

Hubei, Hunan, Jiangxi, Jilin, Liaoning, Zhejiang [Japan, Korea]. 


for timber. 

7. WOONYOUNGIA Y. W. Law, Bull. Bot. Res., Harbin 17: 354. 1997. 

焕镛木属 huan yong mu shu 

Trees, dioecious. Stipules adnate to petiole. Young leaves folded in bud; petiole with stipular scar. Flowers terminal, solitary, 

sometimes overtopped by a growing axillary vegetative bud and thus seemingly axillary. Spathaceous bract 1, just basal to tepals. Tepals 

6 or 7, 3 per whorl, subequal. Male flower: stamen connective exserted and forming a mucro; anthers dehiscing introrsely. Female 

flower: gynoecium sessile; carpels 6–15, connate; ovules 2 per carpel. Mature carpels woody, dehiscing along dorsal sutures. 

Seeds 1 or 2 per carpel, pendulous on an elongated filiform and elastic pseudofuniculus. 

Three species: Cambodia, S China, N Thailand, Vietnam; one species (endemic) in China. 

1. Woonyoungia septentrionalis (Dandy) Y. W. Law, Bull. 

Bot. Res., Harbin 17: 355. 1997. 

焕镛木 huan yong mu 

Kmeria septentrionalis Dandy, J. Bot. 69: 233. 1931; Magnolia 

kwangsiensis Figlar & Nooteboom. 

Trees, to 18 m tall, to 40 cm d.b.h. Bark gray. Twigs green, 

at first appressed pubescent. Stipular scar nearly reaching apex 

of petiole. Petiole 2–3.5 cm, at first grayish pubescent, later glabrescent; 

leaf blade elliptic-oblong to obovate-oblong, 8–15 × 

3.5–6 cm, leathery, both surfaces glabrous or when young abaxially 

sparsely pilose at base, adaxially green and glossy, secondary 

veins 12–17 on each side of midvein, reticulate veins 

prominent on both surfaces, base broadly cuneate, apex obtuse 

and slightly emarginate. Male flower: tepals white and pale 

greenish; outer 3 tepals obovate, 2–3 × ca. 2 cm; tepals of inner 

2 whorls elliptic, slightly narrower and smaller; androecium 

white with pale yellow, obovoid; stamens 1.8–2.5 cm; filaments 

ca. 2 mm; connective exserted and forming a 2–3 mm tonguelike 

tip; anthers 1–1.5 cm, dehiscing laterally. Female flower: 

outer 3 tepals obovate, 2.5–3 × 2–2.5 cm; tepals of inner whorls 

8–10, linear-narrowly ovate, 2–2.5 cm × 2–3 mm; gynoecium 

green, obovoid, ca. 10 × 8–9 mm; carpels 6–9; ovules 2 per 

carpel, shortly funiculate; styles short; stigmas cristate. Fruit 

red when mature, subglobose; pericarp 3.5–4 cm, woody, dehiscing 

completely along dorsal sutures. Seeds 1 or 2 per carpel, 

those with testa red but those without testa black, bean-shaped 

to cordate, 10–12 × 7–9 mm, narrowly long furrowed, with several 

irregular massive protuberances, stalked at middle, apex 

truncate to slightly concave. Fl. May–Jun, fr. Oct–Nov. 2n = 

38*. 

● Limestone hills, forests; 300–600 m. N Guangxi, SE Guizhou, 

SE Yunnan. 


8. PACHYLARNAX Dandy, Bull. Misc. Inform. Kew 1927: 259, 260. 1927. 

Manglietiastrum Y. W. Law. 

厚壁木属 hou bi mu shu 

Trees, evergreen. Stipules free from petiole. Leaves spirally arranged, not folded and firmly adnate to young buds when young; 

petiole without a scar; leaf blade margin entire. Flowers terminal, solitary, bisexual. Tepals 9, in 3 whorls; outer whorl largest. Stamens 

numerous; filaments short; connective exserted and forming a long mucro; anthers linear, dehiscent introrsely. Gynoecium with 

basal carpels elongated at base and forming a thick strong stalk; carpels [2–8 or]numerous, linked to each other, connate after fertilization; 

ovules 3–5 per carpel. Fruit obovoid or ellipsoid; mature carpels thickly woody, completely dehiscing along ventral sutures 

and at apex. Seeds 1–3 per carpel, hanging on a filiform false ovule stalk. 

Three species: SW China, NE India, Indonesia, Malaysia (peninsular), Vietnam; one species (endemic) in China. 

1. Pachylarnax sinica (Y. W. Law) N. H. Xia & C. Y. Wu, 

comb. nov. 

华盖木 hua gai mu 

Basionym: Manglietiastrum sinicum Y. W. Law, Acta 

Phytotax. Sin. 17(4): 73. 1979; Magnolia sinica (Y. W. Law) 

Nooteboom; Manglietia sinica (Y. W. Law) B. L. Chen & 

Nooteboom.

Trees, to 40 m tall, to 1.2 m d.b.h., glabrous. Bark grayish 

white, finely fissured. Old twigs dark brown; young twigs deep 

green, 5–9 mm in diam. Petiole 1.5–2 cm, without a stipular 

scar, base slightly enlarged; leaf blade narrowly obovate to narrowly 

obovate-elliptic, 15–26(–30) × 5–8(–9.5) cm, leathery, 

abaxially pale green, adaxially deep green and glossy, midvein 

prominent on both surfaces, secondary veins 13–16 on each 

side of midvein, reticulate veins sparse and prominent on both 

surfaces when dry, base gradually narrowly cuneate and decurrent 

on petiole, margin slightly revolute, apex rounded and with 

a ca. 5 mm acute tip, tip obtuse and slightly curved. Flowers 

terminal, solitary; flower buds green, obovoid to ovoid. Spathaceous 

bracts just next to tepals. Tepals 9, in 3 whorls; outer 

Micheliopsis H. Keng. 

MAGNOLIACEAE 

tepals oblong-spatulate, apex obtuse; middle and inner tepals 

obovate-spatulate, smaller. Stamens ca. 65; connective exserted, 

forming a long tip; anthers dehiscent introrsely. Gynoecium 

long ovoid; carpels 13–16; ovules 3–5 per carpel. Fruiting 

gynophore ca. 1 cm. Fruit green when mature, dark brown 

when dry, obovoid to ellipsoid-ovoid, 5–8.5 × 3.5–6.5 cm; mature 

carpels narrowly long ellipsoid to obovoid-ellipsoid, 2.5–4 

× 1.5–2.5 cm, thickly woody, dehiscing completely along ventral 

sutures, abaxially with coarse lenticels, apex 2-lobed. Seeds 

1–3 per carpel, transversely ellipsoid, bilaterally flat, 1–1.3 cm 

wide, ca. 7 mm tall. Fl. Apr, fr. Sep–Nov. 2n = 38*. 


(Maguan, Xichou). 

9. PARAKMERIA Hu & W. C. Cheng, Acta Phytotax. Sin. 1: 1. 1951. 

拟单性木兰属 ni dan xing mu lan shu 

Trees, evergreen, glabrous, hermaphrodite or andro-dioecious. Twigs densely noded and bamboo nodelike; terminal vegetative 

buds dehiscing into 2 valves. Stipules not adnate to petiole. Leaves when young not folded and surrounded by young vegetative buds 

in bud; petiole without a stipular scar; leaf blade margin entire, bony, semitransparent, decurrent on petiole. Flowers terminal, 

solitary. Spathaceous bract 1, just basal to tepals. Tepals 9–12; outer 3 tepals nearly leathery and striated; tepals of inner 2 or 3 whorls 

subequal but gradually smaller inward, fleshy. Male flower: stamens 10–75, inserted on cylindric torus; filaments short; connective 

exserted and forming a mucro; anthers filiform, thecae divergent, dehiscing introrsely; torus deciduous from peduncle after anthesis. 

Bisexual flower: stamens as in male flowers but fewer; gynophore conspicuous; carpels 10–20, connate when developed; ovules 2 

per carpel. Fruit ellipsoid or obovoid, shape varied because of carpels partly undeveloped; fruiting stalks short, not elongated; mature 

carpels woody, dehiscing along dorsal sutures and apex. Seeds 1 or 2 per carpel, pendulous on a filiform elastic false ovule stalk; 

testa red or yellow; endotesta bony, with an apical hole. 

Five species: China, N Myanmar; five species (three endemic) in China. 

1a. Plants with bisexual flowers; tepals apiculate at apex. 

2a. Leaf blade leathery, rigid, deep green and glossy, elliptic, oblong-elliptic, or obovate-elliptic, secondary veins 

7–13 on each side; tepals purplish red at base abaxially, obovate-spoon-shaped, 4–5 cm; fruit 5–7.5 cm ................ 1. P. nitida 

2b. Leaf blade thinly leathery, adaxially green and glossy, narrowly ovate to narrowly elliptic, secondary 

veins 14–16 on each side; outer tepals pale yellow, obovate-oblong, 2.5–4 cm; fruit 2–2.5 cm ................... 2. P. kachirachirai 

1b. Plants andro-dioecious; tepals rounded or acuminate at apex. 

3a. Leaf blade thinly leathery, usually widest toward base from middle, ovate-oblong or ovate-elliptic, base 

broadly cuneate or suborbicular; outer tepals red abaxially; torus of male flowers rounded at apex .............. 3. P. yunnanensis 

3b. Leaf blade leathery, usually widest at middle, base cuneate or narrowly cuneate; outer tepals pale yellow; 

torus of male flowers shortly mucronate or long acuminate at apex. 

4a. Leaf blade elliptic, narrowly elliptic, or obovate-elliptic, apex shortly acute or shortly acuminate, 

adaxially deep green, abaxially grayish green, glandular; torus of male flower shortly mucronate ............. 4. P. omeiensis 

4b. Leaf blade obovate-elliptic or narrowly obovate-elliptic, apex acuminate, tips obtuse, adaxially green, 

abaxially pale green, not glandular; torus of male flower long acuminate at apex ..................................... 5. P. lotungensis 

1. Parakmeria nitida (W. W. Smith) Y. W. Law, Acta Phytotax. 

Sin. 34: 91. 1996. 

光叶拟单性木兰 guang ye ni dan xing mu lan 

Magnolia nitida W. W. Smith, Notes Roy. Bot. Gard. 

Edinburgh 12: 212. 1920; M. nitida var. robusta B. L. Chen & 

Nooteboom. 

Trees, to 30 m tall, to 1 m d.b.h., with bisexual flowers. 

Petiole 1–4 cm; leaf blade elliptic, oblong-elliptic, or rarely 

obovate-elliptic, 5.5–9.5 × 2–4 cm, leathery, adaxially deep 

green and glossy but reddish brown when young, secondary 

veins 7–13 on each side of midvein, base cuneate or broadly 

cuneate, apex acute to acuminate. Flowers fragrant. Tepals ca. 

12; outer 3 tepals outside purplish red at middle, obovatespoon-shaped, 

4–5 × 2.3–2.5 cm; tepals of inner 3 whorls pale 

yellowish white, gradually smaller. Stamens 1–1.7 cm; connective 

exserted ca. 3 mm; anthers ca. 1 cm. Gynoecium green; 

styles red. Fruit green, ellipsoid-ovoid, 5–7.5 cm; testa bright 

yellow. Fl. Mar–May, fr. Sep–Oct. 

Evergreen broad-leaved forests; 1800–2500 m. SE Xizang, NW 

Yunnan [N Myanmar]. 

2. Parakmeria kachirachirai (Kanehira & Yamamoto) Y. W. 

Law, Acta Phytotax. Sin. 34: 91. 1996. 

恒春拟单性木兰 heng chun ni dan xing mu lan 

69

70 

Michelia kachirachirai Kanehira & Yamamoto, Icon. Pl. 

Formosan., Suppl. 2: 14 1926; Magnolia kachirachirai (Kanehira 

& Yamamoto) Dandy; Micheliopsis kachirachirai (Kanehira 

& Yamamoto) H. Keng. 

Trees, to 20 m tall, to 1.2 m d.b.h., with bisexual flowers. 

Dry bark dark brown, smooth, massively scaly fissured when 

old. Petiole 0.5–2 cm; leaf blade narrowly ovate to narrowly 

elliptic, 6.5–12 × 2–3 cm, thinly leathery, secondary veins 14– 

16 on each side of midvein, base cuneate, apex acute to shortly 

acuminate. Peduncle 1–1.5 cm; spathaceous bract 1, brown, ca. 

2.5 cm, glabrous. Tepals 9–12, in 3 or 4 whorls, pale yellow, 

obovate-oblong, 2.5–4 × 1–1.5 cm; tepals of innermost whorl 

usually smaller. Stamens 50–60, 1.4–1.8 cm; connective exserted 

and forming a mucro; anthers 1.2–1.5 cm. Gynophore 

0.5–0.8 cm; gynoecium ovoid, 1.2–1.4 cm; carpels 9–18. Fruit 

long cylindric, 2–2.5 × 1.2–1.5 cm. Seeds without testa flat, 

orbicular or reniform. Fl. Apr–May, fr. Oct–Nov. 

● Evergreen broad-leaved forests; 500–1300 m. Taiwan. 


3. Parakmeria yunnanensis Hu, Acta Phytotax. Sin. 1: 2. 

1951. 

云南拟单性木兰 yun nan ni dan xing mu lan 

Magnolia yunnanensis (Hu) Nooteboom. 

Trees, to 30 m tall, to 50 cm d.b.h., andro-dioecious. Bark 

grayish white, smooth and not fissured. Petiole 1–2.5 cm; leaf 

blade ovate-oblong to ovate-elliptic, 6.5–15(–20) × 2–5 cm, 

thinly leathery, abaxially pale green and adaxially green but 

both surfaces purplish red when young, secondary veins 7–15 

on each side of midvein, reticulate veins conspicuous on both 

surfaces, base broadly cuneate to nearly rounded, apex shortly 

acuminate to acuminate. Flowers fragrant. Male flower: tepals 

12, in 4 whorls; outer tepals red, obovate, ca. 4 × 2 cm; tepals of 

inner 3 whorls white, narrowly obovate-spoon-shaped, 3–3.5 

cm, fleshy, base tapering into claw; stamens ca. 30, ca. 2.5 cm; 

filaments ca. 1 cm, red; connective exserted and forming a ca. 1 

mm mucro; anthers ca. 1.5 cm; torus rounded at apex. Bisexual 

flower: tepals as those of male flowers; stamens fewer than 

those of male; gynoecium green, ovoid. Fruit long ovoid, ca. 6 

cm; mature carpels rhombic, dehiscing along dorsal sutures 

when matured. Seeds compressed, 6–7 × ca. 10 cm; testa red. 

Fl. May, fr. Sep–Oct. 2n = 114. 

Evergreen broad-leaved forests; 1200–1500 m. SE Xizang, Yunnan 

[N Myanmar]. 

4. Parakmeria omeiensis W. C. Cheng, Acta Phytotax. Sin. 1: 

1. 1951. 

峨眉拟单性木兰 e mei ni dan xing mu lan 

MAGNOLIACEAE 

Magnolia omeiensis (W. C. Cheng) Dandy. 


dark grayish. Petiole 1.5–2 cm; leaf blade elliptic, narrowly 

elliptic, or obovate-elliptic, 8–12 × 2.5–4.5 cm, leathery, glandular, 

abaxially pale grayish green, adaxially deep green and 

glossy, secondary veins 8–10 on each side of midvein, base 

cuneate to narrowly cuneate, apex shortly acuminate with an 

obtuse acumen. Male flower: tepals 12; outer 3 tepals pale yellow, 

oblong, 3–3.8 × 1–1.4 cm, thinner, apex rounded or obtuse; 

tepals of inner 3 whorls milky white, obovate-spoon-shaped, 

narrower and smaller, fleshy; stamens ca. 30, 2–2.2 cm; filaments 

dark red, 2–4 mm; connective dark red, exserted and 

forming a mucro; anthers 1–1.2 cm; torus apex mucronate. 

Bisexual flower: tepals same as those of male flowers; stamens 

16–18; gynoecium ellipsoid, ca. 1 cm; carpels 8–12. Fruit obovoid, 

3–4 cm. Seeds obovate, 6–8 mm in diam.; testa reddish 

brown. Fl. May, fr. Sep. 2n = 76*. 

● Evergreen broad-leaved forests; 1200–1300 m. Sichuan (Emei 

Shan). 

5. Parakmeria lotungensis (Chun & C. H. Tsoong) Y. W. Law, 

Acta Phytotax. Sin. 34: 91. 1996. 

乐东拟单性木兰 le dong ni dan xing mu lan 

Magnolia lotungensis Chun & C. H. Tsoong, Acta 

Phytotax. Sin. 8: 225. 1963; M. nitida W. W. Smith var. lotungensis 

(Chun & C. H. Tsoong) B. L. Chen & Nooteboom; 

Parakmeria lotungensis var. xiangxiensis C. L. Pang & L. H. 

Yan. 


grayish white. Annual twigs green. Petiole 1–2 cm; leaf blade 

narrowly obovate-elliptic, obovate-elliptic, or narrowly elliptic, 

6–11 × 2–3.5(–5) cm, leathery, abaxially pale green, adaxially 

green and glossy, secondary veins 9–13 on each side of midvein 

and conspicuously prominent on both surfaces when dry, base 

cuneate to narrowly cuneate, apex acuminate with an obtuse tip. 

Male flower: tepals 9–14; outer 3 or 4 tepals pale yellow, 

obovate-oblong, 2.5–3.5 × 1.2–2.5 cm; tepals of inner 2 or 3 

whorls white; filaments purplish red; connective purplish red, 

exserted and forming a mucro; torus long sharply acuminate at 

apex and sometimes with a gynophore. Bisexual flower: tepals 

10–35, same shape as those of male flowers but smaller; stamens 

10–35; gynoecium green, ovoid; carpels 10–20 (sometimes 

1–5 due to abortion, and flowers tending to be male). 

Fruit ellipsoid-ovoid or rarely obovoid, 3–6 cm. Seeds ellipsoid 

to ellipsoid-ovoid, 7–12 × 6–7 mm; testa red. Fl. Apr–May, 

fr. Aug–Sep. 2n = 114*. 

● Forests; 700–1400 m. Fujian, Guangdong, Guangxi, SE Guizhou, 

Hainan, Hunan, Jiangxi, Zhejiang. 

10. ALCIMANDRA Dandy, Bull. Misc. Inform. Kew 1927: 259, 260. 1927. 

长蕊木兰属 chang rui mu lan shu 

Trees, evergreen. Stipules free from petiole. Petiole without a stipular scar. Young leaves folded in bud. Flowers terminal, solitary, 

bisexual. Tepals 9, in 3 whorls. Stamens 35–40; exserted part of connective tongue-shaped; anther elongated, dehiscing introrsely. 

Gynoecium with a gynophore not longer than androecium; carpels ca. 30, distinct; ovules 2–5 per carpel. Mature carpels 

leathery, dehiscing along dorsal sutures. Seeds 1–4 per carpel. 

One species: Bhutan, SW China, NE India, N Myanmar, N Vietnam.

1. Alcimandra cathcartii (J. D. Hooker & Thomson) Dandy, 

Bull. Misc. Inform. Kew 1927: 260. 1927. 

长蕊木兰 chang rui mu lan 

Michelia cathcartii J. D. Hooker & Thomson, Fl. Ind. 1: 

79. 1855; Magnolia cathcartii (J. D. Hooker & Thomson) 

Nooteboom. 

Trees, to 50 m tall, to 50 cm d.b.h. Young twigs pubescent; 

terminal vegetative buds long conic, white villous. Petiole 1.5– 

2 cm, without a stipular scar; leaf blade ovate to elliptic-ovate, 

8–18 cm, leathery, base rounded to broadly cuneate, adaxially 

glossy, secondary veins 12–15 on each side of midvein, slender, 

MAGNOLIACEAE 

and ends inconspicuously netted with dense reticulate veins. 

Spathaceous bract green, just basal to tepals. Peduncle ca. 1.5 

cm. Tepals 9, white, with pellucid glands, ca. 9-veined; outer 

3 tepals oblong, 5.5–6 × 2–2.2 cm; tepals of inner 2 whorls 

obovate-elliptic, slightly shorter and smaller than outer ones. 

Stamens ca. 4 cm; connective exserted and forming a mucro; 

anthers ca. 2.8 cm. Gynophore ca. 1 cm; gynoecium cylindric, 

ca. 2 × 0.3 cm; carpels ca. 30. Fruit 3.5–4 cm; mature carpels 

compressed globose, white lenticellate. Fl. May, fr. Aug–Sep. 

2n = 38. 

Evergreen broad-leaved forests; 1800–2700 m. SE Xizang, S and 

W Yunnan [Bhutan, India (Assam, Sikkim), Myanmar, Vietnam]. 

11. YULANIA Spach, Hist. Nat. Vég. Phan. 7: 462. 1839. 

玉兰属 yu lan shu 

Magnolia subg. Pleurochasma Dandy; M. subg. Yulania (Spach) Reichenbach. 

Trees or shrubs, deciduous. Stipules membranous, adnate to petiole and leaving a scar on petiole. Leaves spirally arranged, 

folded in bud, erect when young; leaf blade membranous or thickly papery, margin entire or rarely 2-lobed at apex. Flowers terminal 

on brachyblasts, solitary, bisexual, appearing before or at same time as leaves, large and showy, usually fragrant. Tepals 9–15(–45), 3 

per whorl, white, pink, purplish red, or rarely yellow, subequal, sometimes outer ones (perules) smaller, greenish or yellowish brown, 

and sepal-like. Stamens caducous; filaments flat; connective exserted and forming a long or short mucro; anthers dehiscing introrselatrorsely 

or latrorsely. Gynoecium without a gynophore; carpels distinct; ovules 2(–4) per carpel; styles curved outward. Fruit 

usually terete when mature, often curved because of carpels partly abortive; mature carpels often distinct or rarely connate, leathery 

or subwoody, dehiscing along dorsal sutures, persistent on torus. 

About 25 species: temperate and subtropical regions of SE Asia and North America; 18 species including one to six hybrid species (16 endemic, 

one introduced) in China. 

Yulania kobus (Candolle) Spach (Magnolia kobus Candolle, nom. cons.; M. praecocissima Koidzumi), native to Japan and S Korea, is cultivated 

as a garden plant in Shandong and Zhejiang. 

“Magnolia glabrata Y. W. Law & R. Z. Zhou” and “M. glabrata var. multipetala Y. W. Law & Q. W. Zeng” (in Y. H. Liu, Magnolias China, 62, 

64. 2004) either represent hybrids between Yulania (Magnolia) species found in plantations grown for medicinal xinyi or could be a synonyms of 

already published taxa; however, they were not validly published because no Latin descriptions or diagnoses were provided and no types were 


1a. Tepals unequal, outer ones sepal-like and much smaller than inner ones. 

2a. Flowers appearing at same time as or later than leaves; leaf blade conspicuously decurrent at base; stipular 

scar nearly 1/2 as long as petiole ............................................................................................................................ 12. Y. liliiflora 

2b. Flowers appearing before leaves; leaf blade not decurrent at base; stipular scar less than 1/2 as long as petiole. 

3a. Mature carpels connate or densely aggregated, not curved, abaxially white lenticellate ............................ 11. Y. cylindrica 

3b. Mature carpels distinct from each other, usually curved, tuberculate abaxially. 

4a. Gynoecium with trichomes. 

5a. Young twigs yellowish green, densely pubescent; leaf blade varied in shape, obovate, 

ovate, obtriangular, or orbicular, apex obtuse with an acute acumen or emarginate 

or lobed .................................................................................................................................. 13. Y. jigongshanensis 

5b. Young twigs purplish brown, glabrous; leaf blade obovate, apex obtusely rounded, 

with a shortly acute mucro ................................................................................................................ 16. Y. pilocarpa 

4b. Gynoecium glabrous. 

6a. Twigs glabrous ........................................................................................................................................ 9. Y. biondii 

6b. Twigs with trichomes ............................................................................................................................ 10. Y. stellata 

1b. Tepals subequal, outer ones not much smaller and sepal-like. 

7a. Tepals clawed at base; leaf blade elliptic or ovate. 

8a. Tepals 12–16, obovate-spatulate or oblong-ovate ......................................................................................... 1. Y. campbellii 

8b. Tepals 33–48, narrowly elliptic ......................................................................................................................... 18. Y. viridula 

7b. Tepals base usually not clawed; leaf blade obovate or elliptic-obovate. 

9a. Leaf blade usually emarginate or obtuse at apex. 

10a. Leaf blade obovate-spatulate or narrowly obovate, apex emarginate, abaxially dense silvery wavy 

villous; tepals 10–14 ........................................................................................................................... 2. Y. sargentiana 

10b. Leaf blade narrowly oblong-spatulate or obovate-oblong, apex obtuse, abaxially glabrous or 

with trichomes along veins; tepals 9–12 ............................................................................................ 3. Y. dawsoniana 

71

72 

MAGNOLIACEAE 

9b. Leaf blade acute or shortly acuminate at apex. 

11a. Twigs with trichomes. 

12a. Leaf blade irregularly triangular; gynoecium densely villous ..................................................... 14. Y. mirifolia 

12b. Leaf blade obovate; gynoecium glabrous. 

13a. Tepals pure white, sometimes reddish at base abaxially, outer ones equal to inner 

ones in length ....................................................................................................................... 8. Y. denudata 

13b. Tepals pale to dark red, outer ones ca. 2/3 as long as inner ones .............................. 17. Y. ×soulangeana 

11b. Twigs glabrous. 

14a. Tepals 12–24. 

15a. Leaf blade 10–18 cm, lower ca. 2/3 cuneate; each flower bud with 1 flower, tepals rosy 

(to red) outside, whitish within ............................................................................................ 4. Y. sprengeri 

15b. Leaf blade 5–10 cm, base broadly cuneate; each flower bud with 2 or 3 flowers; 

tepals white ........................................................................................................................ 15. Y. multiflora 

14b. Tepals 9–12. 

16a. Leaf blade obovate to narrowly obovate-elliptic, apex acuminate to abruptly cuspidate, 

acumen 0.5–2 cm; tepals red or pale red ................................................................................ 5. Y. amoena 

16b. Leaf blade obovate-oblong, apex rounded, with an acuminate mucro; tepals pale 

purplish red. 

17a. Tepals 9, upper part white, lower part pale purplish red .................................................... 6. Y. zenii 

17b. Tepals 11(or 12), pale purplish red .................................................................... 7. Y. elliptigemmata 

1. Yulania campbellii (J. D. Hooker & Thomson) D. L. Fu, J. 

Wuhan Bot. Res. 19: 198. 2001. 

滇藏玉兰 dian zang yu lan 

Magnolia campbellii J. D. Hooker & Thomson, Fl. Ind. 1: 

77. 1855; M. campbellii subsp. mollicomata (W. W. Smith) G. 

H. Johnstone; M. campbellii var. mollicomata (W. W. Smith) F. 

S. Ward; M. mollicomata W. W. Smith. 

Trees, to 30 m tall. Bark grayish brown. Twigs yellowish 

green when young and reddish brown when old, glabrous. 

Stipular scar short and small. Petiole 1–5 cm, pilose; leaf blade 

elliptic, oblong-ovate, or broadly obovate, 10–23(–33) × 4.5– 

10(–14) cm, papery, abaxially grayish green and white appressed 

pilose, adaxially deep green and glabrous, midvein and 

secondary veins appressed long sericeous, secondary veins 12– 

16 on each side of midvein, base rounded to broadly cuneate 

and usually unequal, apex acute to shortly acuminate. Peduncle 

thick and strong, ca. 2 cm, glabrous or slightly pilose. Flower 

buds ovoid, ca. 2.5 cm, pale yellow sericeous. Flowers appearing 

before leaves, 15–25(–35) cm in diam., slightly fragrant. 

Tepals 12–16, dark red, pink, or sometimes white, obovate-spoon-shaped 

to oblong-ovate, 6–14 × 4–6 cm, base 

gradually narrowed and forming a claw; outer 3 patent, reflexed, 

or pendulous; tepals of innermost whorl broadly ovate 

to suborbicular, 8–10 × 4–6 cm, erect, surrounding stamens and 

gynoecium. Stamens 1–3 cm; filaments purplish red. Gynoecium 

green, 2–3 cm; stigmas red. Fruiting peduncle thick and 

strong, 1–1.5 cm in diam., glabrous. Fruit purplish red turning 

brown, terete, 11–20 × 2.5–3 cm, at first erect then pendulous; 

mature carpels firmly connate, thin, dehiscing into 2 valves 

along dorsal sutures. Seeds cordate, 1–1.2 × 0.8–1 cm, laterally 

flat. Fl. Mar–May, fr. Jun–Jul. 2n = 114. 

Forests; 2500–3500 m. S Xizang, NW Yunnan [Bhutan, NE India 

(Assam, Sikkim), N Myanmar, Nepal]. 


2. Yulania sargentiana (Rehder & E. H. Wilson) D. L. Fu, J. 

Wuhan Bot. Res. 19: 198. 2001. 

凹叶玉兰 ao ye yu lan 

Magnolia sargentiana Rehder & E. H. Wilson in Sargent, 

Pl. Wilson. 1: 398. 1913; M. conspicua Salisbury var. emarginata 

Finet & Gagnepain; M. denudata Desrousseaux var. 

emarginata (Finet & Gagnepain) Pampanini; M. emarginata 

(Finet & Gagnepain) W. C. Cheng; M. sargentiana var. robusta 

Rehder & E. H. Wilson. 

Trees 8–20(–25) m tall, to 1 m d.b.h. Annual twigs yellowish 

green later becoming gray. Stipular scar 1/6–1/4 as long 

as petiole. Petiole 2–4.5 cm; leaf blade obovate to rarely oblong-obovate, 

10–19 × 6–10 cm, nearly leathery, abaxially pale 

green and densely silvery gray wavy villous but when young 

those on trunk only with trichomes abaxially along midvein, 

adaxially dark green, glabrous, and glossy, secondary veins 8– 

12 on each side of midvein, base narrowly cuneate to broadly 

cuneate, apex rounded and emarginate or mucronate. Flower 

buds ovoid, ca. 3.5 cm, pale yellow villous. Flowers appearing 

before leaves, 15–33(–36) cm, erect or pendulous, slightly fragrant. 

Tepals 10–14(–17), in 3 whorls, pale red to pale purplish 

red, obovate-spoon-shaped or narrowly obovate, 8–10 × 3–4.3 

cm, fleshy, apex rounded to emarginate. Stamens 1–1.9 cm; filaments 

purple; connective exserted and forming a 0.5–1 mm 

mucro; anthers 7–9 mm, dehiscing laterally, base broad. Gynoecium 

green, terete, 1.8–2 cm, glabrous; stigmas purple. Fruiting 

peduncle thick and strong, 7–10 mm in diam., with residual trichomes 

on nodes. Fruit terete, 8–15(–17) × 2–3 cm, usually 

wrinkled; mature carpels blackish purple, hemispherical or subglobose, 

1.2–1.4 × ca. 0.9 cm, densely tuberculate, apex shortly 

beaked. Seeds nearly reniform, irregularly orbicular, or obovate, 

10–12 × 6–8 mm, bilaterally flat; testa reddish brown. Fl. Apr– 

May, fr. Sep. 2n = 114*. 

● Wet broad-leaved forests; 1400–3000 m. C and S Sichuan, N 

and NE Yunnan. 

3. Yulania dawsoniana (Rehder & E. H. Wilson) D. L. Fu, J. 

Wuhan Bot. Res. 19: 198. 2001. 

光叶玉兰 guang ye yu lan

Magnolia dawsoniana Rehder & E. H. Wilson in Sargent, 

Pl. Wilson. 1: 397. 1913. 

Trees, to 20 m tall, to 1 m d.b.h. Twigs yellowish green 

becoming yellowish brown, glabrous or with fine trichomes, 

sparsely lenticellate. Petiole slender, 1–3 cm, base with short 

stipular scar; leaf blade obovate to elliptic-obovate, 7.5–14(–18) 

× 4–8 cm, basal ca. 2/3 gradually narrowing, abaxially pale 

green, vein axils and both sides of midvein usually residual 

with white villous hairs, adaxially green and glossy with only 

fine trichomes along midvein but glabrescent, secondary veins 

8–10 on each side of midvein and usually reddish, reticulate 

veins conspicuously prominent on both surfaces when dry, base 

cuneate and usually oblique, apex obtuse, shortly acute, or 

rarely emarginate. Peduncle 1–1.5 cm, nodes villous. Flowers 

appearing before leaves, 16–25 cm in diam., erect to nodding, 

fragrant. Tepals 9–12, white but outside reddish, narrowly oblong-spoon-shaped 

to obovate-oblong, subequal, apex obtuse to 

emarginate. Stamens purplish red, 1.2–2 cm; filaments 3–4.5 

mm. Gynoecium narrowly cylindric, 1.5–2 cm. Fruit dark red 

when fresh turning dark reddish brown, cylindric, 7–14 × 2.5– 

3.5 cm, slightly curved because part of carpels sterile; mature 

carpels obovoid, with sparse yellow lenticels, 2-valved, apex 

rounded and without a beak. Seeds compressed orbicular or 

irregularly triangular, ca. 1 cm in diam. Fl. Apr–May, fr. Sep– 

Oct. 

● Forests; 1400–2500 m. NW Hunan (Sangzhi), C Sichuan. 


4. Yulania sprengeri (Pampanini) D. L. Fu, J. Wuhan Bot. Res. 

19: 198. 2001. 

武当玉兰 wu dang yu lan 

Magnolia sprengeri Pampanini, Nuovo Giorn. Bot. Ital., 

n.s., 22: 295. 1915; M. denudata Desrousseaux var. elongata 

Rehder & E. H. Wilson; M. denudata var. purpurascens Rehder 

& E. H. Wilson; M. diva Stapf ex Millais; M. elongata (Rehder 

& E. H. Wilson) Millais; M. sprengeri var. diva Stapf; M. 

sprengeri var. elongata (Rehder & E. H. Wilson) Stapf; M. 

wufengensis L. Y. Ma & L. R. Wang; M. wufengensis var. multitepala 

L. Y. Ma & L. R. Wang; Yulania denudata (Desrousseaux) 

D. L. Fu var. elongata (Rehder & E. H. Wilson) D. L. Fu 

& T. B. Chao. 

Trees, to 21 m tall. Bark pale grayish brown or blackish 

brown, falling in small flakes when old. Twigs pale yellowish 

brown becoming gray, glabrous. Petiole 1–3 cm with small 

stipular scar; leaf blade obovate, 10–18 × 4.5–10 cm, abaxially 

finely appressed pilose at first, adaxially sparsely appressed 

pilose along midvein and secondary veins, base cuneate, apex 

acute to abruptly shortly acuminate. Flower buds erect, pale 

grayish yellow sericeous. Flowers appearing before leaves, cupular, 

fragrant. Tepals 12(–14), outside rosy red and dark purple 

striated, obovate-spoon-shaped to spoon-shaped, 5–13 × 2.5– 

3.5 cm, subequal. Stamens 1–1.5 cm; filaments purplish red, 

broad and flat; connective exserted and forming a mucro; anthers 

ca. 5 mm, slightly distinct. Gynoecium pale green, cylindric, 

2–3 cm; styles rosy red. Fruit cylindric, 6–18 cm; mature 

carpels brown, flat and orbicular. Fl. Mar–Apr, fr. Aug–Sep. 

MAGNOLIACEAE 

● Forests, thickets; 1300–2400 m. Chongqing, S Gansu, Guizhou, 

SW Henan, Hubei, NW Hunan, NW Jiangxi (Xiushui), Shaanxi, C 

Sichuan, Yunnan. 


5. Yulania amoena (W. C. Cheng) D. L. Fu, J. Wuhan Bot. 

Res. 19: 198. 2001. 

天目玉兰 tian mu yu lan 

Magnolia amoena W. C. Cheng, Contr. Biol. Lab. Sci. 

Soc. China, Bot. Ser. 9: 280. 1934. 

Trees, to 12 m tall. Bark gray or grayish white. Twigs 

green when young becoming purple when old, 3–4 mm in 

diam., glabrous; buds with grayish white appressed trichomes. 

Stipular scar 1/5–1/2 as long as petiole. Petiole 0.8–1.3 cm, at 

first with white long trichomes; leaf blade obovate to narrowly 

obovate-elliptic, 10–15 × 3.5–5 cm, papery, abaxially with 

white curved long trichomes along veins and in axils, adaxially 

glabrous, secondary veins 10–13 on each side of midvein, base 

broadly cuneate to rounded, apex acuminate to abruptly cuspidate, 

acumen 0.5–2 cm. Spathaceous bract just below tepals. 

Flowers appearing before leaves, red to pale red, ca. 6 cm in 

diam., fragrant. Tepals 9, oblanceolate to spoon-shaped, 5–5.6 

cm. Stamens 9–10 mm; filaments purplish red, 3.5–4 mm; 

connective exserted and forming a 0.5–0.7 mm mucro; anthers 

4.5–5 mm, dehiscing laterally. Gynoecium cylindric, ca. 2 cm × 

2 mm; stigmas ca. 1 mm. Fruiting peduncle ca. 1 cm, with 

residual villous trichomes. Fruit cylindric, 4–10 cm, usually 

curved because of carpels partly undeveloped; mature carpels 

compressed globose, ca. 10 × 6–7 mm, tuberculate, dehiscing 

into 2 valves along dorsal sutures, apex obtuse. Seeds (without 

testa) cordate, 8–9 × 5–6 mm. Fl. Apr–May, fr. Sep–Oct. 

● Montane sparse forests; 700–1000 m. Anhui, Fujian, Hebei, S 

Jiangsu, Jiangxi, Zhejiang. 

6. Yulania zenii (W. C. Cheng) D. L. Fu, J. Wuhan Bot. Res. 

19: 198. 2001. 

宝华玉兰 bao hua yu lan 

Magnolia zenii W. C. Cheng, Contr. Biol. Lab. Sci. Soc. 

China, Bot. Ser. 8: 291. 1933; M. elliptilimba Y. W. Law & Z. 

Y. Gao. 

Trees, to 11 m tall, to 30 cm d.b.h. Bark grayish white, 

smooth. Old twigs purple, sparsely lenticellate; young twigs 

green, glabrous; buds narrowly ovoid, apex slightly curved, 

long sericeous. Stipular scar 1/5–1/2 as long as petiole. Petiole 

0.6–1.8 cm, at first villous; leaf blade obovate-oblong to oblong, 

7–16 × 3–7 cm, membranous, abaxially pale green, adaxially 

green and glabrous, midvein and secondary veins with long 

curved trichomes, secondary veins 8–10 on each side of midvein, 

base broadly cuneate to obtuse, apex broadly rounded and 

with an acuminate tip. Peduncle 2–4 mm, with dense long trichomes. 

Flower buds ovoid. Flowers appearing before leaves, 

ca. 12 cm in diam., fragrant. Tepals 9, nearly spoon-shaped, 

6.8–7.8 × 2.7–3.8 cm, apex rounded to slightly acuminate; inner 

tepals white but outside pale purplish red from base to middle 

and apically white, narrower and smaller. Stamens ca. 1.1 cm; 

filaments purple, ca. 4 mm; connective exserted and forming a 

mucro; anthers ca. 7 mm, thecae divergent, dehiscing introrsely. 

73

74 

Gynoecium cylindric, ca. 2 cm; carpels ca. 4 mm; styles ca. 1 

mm. Fruit cylindric, 5–7 cm; mature carpels suborbicular, 

tuberculate, apex obtuse. Fl. Mar–Apr, fr. Aug–Sep. 

● Hills; ca. 200 m. Jiangsu (Baohua Shan, Jurong). 


7. Yulania elliptigemmata (C. L. Guo & L. L. Huang) N. H. 

Xia, comb. nov. 

椭蕾玉兰 tuo lei yu lan 

Basionym: Magnolia elliptigemmata C. L. Guo & L. L. 

Huang, J. Wuhan Bot. Res. 10: 325. 1992. 

Trees, to 10 m tall, 40–50 cm d.b.h. Bark gray, with 

grayish white massive lenticels. Twigs, petioles, and adaxial 

surface of leaf blades glabrous. Stipular scar 1/4–1/3 as long as 

petiole. Petiole 1.5–2 cm; leaf blade obovate to broadly obovate, 

5–9 × 4.5–6.5 cm, abaxially green, white appressed pubescent 

when young, adaxially dark green, secondary veins 7 or 8 

on each side of midvein, base cuneate to broadly cuneate, apex 

broadly rounded, slightly emarginate, or shortly acute. Peduncle 

ca. 6 mm. Flowers appearing before leaves, fragrant. Tepals 

11(or 12), pale purplish red but basally darker and apically 

lighter, obovate-spoon-shaped, 5.5–6.7 × 2.2–3.2 cm, subequal. 

Stamens ca. 50, 1–1.5 cm; filaments ca. 4 mm; connective exserted 

and forming a ca. 1 mm mucro; anthers dehiscing laterally. 

Gynoecium cylindric, 1.8–2 cm, glabrous; styles 2–3 

mm. Fruit 4–7 cm, usually withered because of carpels partly 

undeveloped; mature carpels compressed globose, 0.7–1.5 cm 

in diam., dehiscing into 2 valves, tuberculate. Seeds beanshaped 

or cordate; testa red; endotesta pale brown. Fl. Mar, fr. 

Sep–Oct. 

● Forests; ca. 700 m. Hubei (Yuan’an). 

This is possibly a form of Yulania sprengeri with smaller leaves. 

8. Yulania denudata (Desrousseaux) D. L. Fu, J. Wuhan Bot. 

Res. 19: 198. 2001. 

玉兰 yu lan 

Magnolia denudata Desrousseaux in Lamarck, Encycl. 3: 

675. 1792; Gwillimia yulan (Desfontaines) de Vos; Lassonia 

heptapeta Buc’hoz, nom. utique rej.; M. alexandrina Steudel; 

M. citriodora Steudel; M. conspicua Salisbury; M. conspicua 

var. purpurascens Maximowicz; M. cyathiformis Rinz ex K. 

Koch; M. denudata var. angustitepala T. B. Chao & Zhi X. 

Chen; M. denudata var. pyramidalis T. B. Chao & Zhi X. Chen; 

M. denudata var. pyriformis T. D. Yang & T. C. Cui; M. heptapeta 

(Buc’hoz) Dandy, comb. rej.; M. obovata Thunberg var. 

denudata (Desrousseaux) Candolle; M. yulan Desfontaines; 

Michelia yulan (Desfontaines) Kosteletzky; Yulania conspicua 

(Salisbury) Spach; Y. denudata var. flava D. L. Fu et al.; Y. 

denudata subsp. pubescens (D. L. Fu et al.) D. L. Fu et al.; Y. 

denudata var. pubescens D. L. Fu et al.; Y. denudata var. purpurascens 

(Maximowicz) D. L. Fu; Y. denudata var. pyramidalis 

(T. B. Chao & Zhi X. Chen) D. L. Fu; Y. pyriformis (T. D. 

Yang & T. C. Cui) D. L. Fu. 

Trees, to 25 m tall, to 1 m d.b.h. Bark deep gray, coarse 

and fissured. Winter buds and peduncles densely pale grayish 

yellow long sericeous. Branches patent and forming a broad 

MAGNOLIACEAE 

crown; twigs grayish brown, slightly thick and strong. Stipular 

scar 1/4–1/3 as long as petiole. Petiole 1–2.5 cm, villous, adaxially 

narrowly furrowed; leaf blade obovate, broadly obovate, 

or obovate-elliptic but basal leaves elliptic, 10–15(–18) × 6– 

10(–12) cm, papery, gradually narrowing from middle toward 

base, abaxially pale green and villous along veins, adaxially 

deep green, villous when young, and later only pilose on midvein 

and secondary veins, secondary veins 8–10 on each side of 

midvein, reticulate veins conspicuous, apex broadly rounded, 

truncate, or slightly emarginate. Peduncle significantly enlarged, 

densely pale yellow long sericeous. Flower buds ovoid. 

Flowers appearing before leaves, 10–16 cm in diam., erect, 

fragrant. Tepals 9, white, oblong-obovate, 6–8(–10) × 2.5– 

4.5(–6.5) cm, subequal, base usually pinkish. Stamens 7–12 

mm; connective ca. 5 mm wide, exserted and forming a mucro; 

anthers 6–7 mm, dehiscing laterally. Gynoecium pale green, 

cylindric, 2–2.5 cm, glabrous; ovaries narrowly ovoid, 3–4 mm; 

styles conical, ca. 4 mm. Fruit cylindric but in cultivation often 

curved because of carpels partly undeveloped, 12–15 × 3.5–5 

cm; mature carpels brown, thickly woody, white lenticellate. 

Seeds cordate, ca. 9 × 10 mm, laterally compressed; testa red; 

endotesta black. Fl. Feb–Mar, fr. Aug–Sep. 2n = 76*, 114*. 

● Forests; 500–1000 m. Anhui, Chongqing, N Guangdong, Guizhou, 

Hubei, Hunan, Jiangxi, Shaanxi, Yunnan, Zhejiang. 

This species is grown as an ornamental and for timber. It is widely 

cultivated in temperate parts of the world. 

9. Yulania biondii (Pampanini) D. L. Fu, J. Wuhan Bot. Res. 

19: 198. 2001. 

望春玉兰 wang chun yu lan 

Magnolia biondii Pampanini, Nuovo Giorn. Bot. Ital., n.s., 

17: 275. 1910; M. aulacosperma Rehder & E. H. Wilson; M. 

biondii var. axilliflora T. B. Chao et al.; M. biondii var. flava T. 

B. Chao et al.; M. biondii var. latitepala T. B. Chao & J. T. Gao 

[“tatitepala”]; M. biondii var. multialabastra T. B. Chao et al.; 

M. biondii var. ovata T. B. Chao & T. X. Zhang; M. biondii var. 

planities T. B. Chao & Y. Z. Qiao; M. conspicua Salisbury var. 

fargesii Finet & Gagnepain; M. denudata Desrousseaux var. 

fargesii (Finet & Gagnepain) Pampanini; M. fargesii (Finet & 

Gagnepain) W. C. Cheng; M. funiushanensis T. B. Chao et al.; 

M. funiushanensis var. purpurea T. B. Chao & J. T. Gao; Yulania 

biondii var. angustitepala D. L. Fu et al. 

Trees, to 12 m tall, to 1 m d.b.h. Bark pale gray, smooth. 

Twigs grayish green, 3–4 mm in diam., glabrous; terminal buds 

ovoid to broadly ovoid, 1.7–3 cm, densely pale yellow opened 

villous. Stipular scar 1/5–1/3 as long as petiole. Petiole 1–2 cm; 

leaf blade narrowly elliptic, narrowly ovate, narrowly obovate, 

or ovate, 10–18 × 3.5–6.5 cm, abaxially light green and 

appressed lanate but later glabrescent, adaxially dark green, 

secondary veins 10–15 on each side of midvein, base broadly 

cuneate to obtuse and decurrent on petiole, margin dry membranous, 

apex acute to shortly acuminate. Peduncle ca. 1 cm, 

with 3 bract scars, apically swollen. Flowers appearing before 

leaves, 6–8 cm in diam., fragrant. Tepals 9; outer 3 tepals sepaloid, 

purplish red, nearly narrowly obovate-linear, ca. 1 cm; 

tepals of middle and inner whorls white but usually outside purplish 

red at base, spoon-shaped, 4–5 × 1.3–2.5 cm; tepals of 

inner whorls smaller and narrower. Stamens 8–10 mm; fila-

ments purple, 3–4 mm; anthers 4–5 mm. Gynoecium 1.5–2 cm. 

Fruiting peduncle ca. 1 × 0.7 cm, with residual long sericeous 

trichomes. Fruit cylindric, 8–14 cm, usually withered because 

of carpels partly undeveloped; mature carpels light brown, suborbicular, 

compressed laterally, tuberculate. Seeds cordate, with 

a V-shaped furrow prominent in middle, abaxially deeply furrowed, 

apically concave, apex inconspicuously acute; testa 

bright red; endotesta dark black. Fl. Mar, fr. Sep. 2n = 76*. 

● Forests; 600–2100 m. Chongqing, SE Gansu, Henan, Hubei, N 

Hunan, Shaanxi, Sichuan. 


“Magnolia biondii var. parvialabastra T. B. Chao,” “M. biondii 

var. purpurea T. B. Chao et al.,” and “M. honanensis B. Y. Ding & T. B. 

Chao” (in J. Henan Agric. College 1983(4): 7, 8, 10. 1983) belong here 

but were not validly published because in each case two gatherings 

were indicated as types (Vienna Code, Art. 37.2). 

10. Yulania stellata (Maximowicz) N. H. Xia, comb. nov. 

星花玉兰 xing hua yu lan 

Basionym: Magnolia stellata Maximowicz, Bull. Acad. 

Imp. Sci. Saint-Pétersbourg, Sér. 3, 17: 418. 1872; M. sinostellata 

P. L. Chiu & Z. H. Chen; Yulania sinostellata (P. L. 

Chiu & Z. H. Chen) D. L. Fu. 

Shrubs, 0.3–2.4 m tall. Twigs slender, lenticellate; old 

twigs grayish brown; annual and biennial twigs green. Stipular 

scar ca. 1/2 as long as petiole. Petiole 3–12 mm, glabrous; leaf 

blade elliptic, narrowly elliptic, or obovate-elliptic, 7–12 × 2.5– 

4 cm, abaxially glabrous or white pubescent in vein axils, adaxially 

glabrous, midvein abaxially slightly impressed, secondary 

veins 6–8 on each side of midvein, base cuneate, apex acuminate 

to caudate. Peduncle 3–5 mm, densely yellow sericeous. 

Flower buds 1.5–2 cm. Flowers appearing before leaves, 5–7 

cm in diam. Tepals 12–15(–18), in 4 or 5(or 6) whorls, pale red 

at first but later gradually becoming white with red on outside 

on apical part or only at middle, oblanceolate to obovate-spoonshaped, 

3.3–4.5 × 1.3–1.8 cm, fleshy, apex rounded to nearly 

acute. Stamens 86–99, 7–9(–10) mm; filaments 1–2(–3) mm; 

anthers 6–7 mm. Gynoecium cylindric, 6–8 × 2–4 mm; carpels 

many, narrowly ovoid, ca. 2 mm, distinct, glabrous; stigmas 

ca. 1.5 mm. Fruit not seen. Fl. Feb. 

Sparse forests; ca. 1000 m. Naturalized in Zhejiang (Jingning) 

[native to Japan]. 

This species is commonly cultivated in Jiangsu, Shandong, and 

Zhejiang. 

In FRPS (30(1): 139. 1996) the name Magnolia tomentosa Thunberg, 

nom. utique rej., was misapplied to this species. 

One of us (Xia) considers that Yulania sinostellata is a distinct 

species. 

11. Yulania cylindrica (E. H. Wilson) D. L. Fu, J. Wuhan Bot. 

Res. 19: 198. 2001. 

黄山玉兰 huang shan yu lan 

Magnolia cylindrica E. H. Wilson, J. Arnold Arbor. 8: 109. 

1927. 

Trees, to 10 m tall. Bark grayish white, smooth. Young 

twigs, petioles, and leaf blade abaxial surfaces with pale yellow 

appressed trichomes. Old twigs purplish brown, bark with 

MAGNOLIACEAE 

pungent odor when crushed. Stipular scar 1/6–1/3 as long as 

petiole. Petiole 0.5–2 cm, narrowly furrowed; leaf blade obovate, 

narrowly obovate, or obovate-oblong, 6–14 × 2–5(–6.5) 

cm, membranous, abaxially grayish green, adaxially green and 

glabrous, base nearly rounded to broadly cuneate, apex obtuse, 

acute, or caudate. Peduncle 1–1.5 cm, thick and strong, densely 

pale yellow long sericeous. Flowers appearing before leaves, 

erect. Flower buds ovoid, with pale grayish yellow to silvery 

gray long trichomes. Tepals 9; outer 3 tepals sepal-like, 1.2–2 × 

ca. 0.4 cm, membranous; tepals of middle and inner whorls 

white but base usually red, petal-like, obovate, 6.5–10 × 2.5–4.5 

cm, base clawed; inner 3 tepals erect. Stamens ca. 1 cm; filaments 

pale red; connective exserted and forming a tip or mucro. 

Gynoecium green, cylindric-ovoid, ca. 1.2 cm. Fruit purplish 

red at first then turning dark purplish black, cylindric, 5–7.5 × 

1.8–2.5 cm, pendulous; mature carpels connate and not 

curved. Seeds (without testa) brown, cordate, 7–10 × 9–11 mm, 

laterally compressed, adaxially broadly furrowed, base cuneate, 

apex V-shaped. Fl. Apr–Jun, fr. Aug–Sep. 2n = 76*. 

● Forests; 700–1600 m. Anhui, Fujian, S Henan, Hubei, Jiangxi, 

Zhejiang. 

“Magnolia concinna Y. W. Law & R. Z. Zhou” (in Y. H. Liu, 




12. Yulania liliiflora (Desrousseaux) D. L. Fu, J. Wuhan Bot. 

Res. 19: 198. 2001. 

紫玉兰 zi yu lan 

Magnolia liliiflora Desrousseaux in Lamarck, Encycl. 3: 

675. 1792; Lassonia quinquepeta Buc’hoz, nom. utique rej.; M. 

plena C. L. Peng & L. H. Yan; M. polytepala Y. W. Law et al.; 

M. quinquipeta (Buc’hoz) Dandy, comb. rej.; Yulania japonica 

Spach. 

Shrubs, to 3 m tall, usually caespitose. Bark grayish brown. 

Twigs greenish purple to pale purplish brown. Stipular scar ca. 

1/2 as long as petiole. Petiole 0.8–2 cm; leaf blade ellipticobovate 

to obovate, 8–18 × 3–10 cm, abaxially grayish green 

and pubescent along veins, adaxially deep green and sparsely 

pubescent when young, secondary veins 8–10 on each side of 

midvein, base gradually narrowing along petiole to stipular 

scar, apex acute to acuminate. Peduncle thick and strong, with 

trichomes. Flower buds ovoid, pale yellow sericeous. Flowers 

appearing at same time with leaves, vase-shaped, erect, slightly 

fragrant. Tepals 9–12; outer 3 tepals purplish green, sepal-like, 

lanceolate, 2–3.5 cm, caducous; tepals of inner 2 whorls purple 

to purplish red outside and whitish inside, petal-like, ellipticobovate, 

8–10 × 3–4.5 cm, fleshy. Stamens purplish red, 8–10 

mm; connective exserted and forming a mucro; anthers ca. 7 

mm, dehiscing laterally. Gynoecium pale purple, ca. 1.5 cm, 

glabrous. Fruit dark purplish brown, cylindric, 7–10 cm; mature 

carpels subglobose, apex shortly beaked. Fl. Mar–Apr, fr. Aug– 

Sep. 2n = 76*. 

● Forest margins, slopes; 300–1600 m. Chongqing, Fujian, Hubei, 

S Shaanxi, Sichuan, NW Yunnan. 


75

76 

13. Yulania jigongshanensis (T. B. Chao et al.) D. L. Fu, J. 

Wuhan Bot. Res. 19: 198. 2001. 

鸡公山玉兰 ji gong shan yu lan 

Magnolia jigongshanensis T. B. Chao et al., J. Henan 

Univ., Nat. Sci. 26: 62. 2000. 

Trees. Twigs purplish brown, lustrous, glabrous, rarely pubescent; 

young twigs pale yellowish green, terete, densely pubescent. 

Petiole 1–3 cm, furrowed adaxially; leaf blade broadly 

elliptic, broadly ovate, orbicular, suborbicular, obovate, or obtriangular, 

16.5–19.5 × 5–17.5 cm, thinly leathery to leathery, 

abaxially pale yellowish green and densely curved pubescent, 

adaxially dark green, lustrous, and densely pubescent along 

veins, secondary veins 5–9 on each side of midvein and prominent 

on both surfaces, base subrounded to broadly cuneate, 

apex obtuse and with a long mucro to 2-lobed. Brachyblasts 

densely pubescent. Flower buds ovoid, small, densely grayish 

white to pale yellowish brown villous. Flowers appearing before 

leaves. Tepals 9; outer 3 tepals pale yellowish green, sepallike, 

triangular or lanceolate, 1–5(–15) mm, membranous; inner 

6 tepals pale yellowish white but outside pale purplish in middle 

at base, petal-like, spatulate-elliptic, 5–9 × 3–5 cm, apex obtuse 

to sometimes emarginate. Stamens 65–71; filaments purple; 

anthers 0.8–1.3 cm, dehiscing latrorsely. Carpels many, 

densely pubescent. Fruit terete, 15–20 × 3–5 cm. Fl. Apr, fr. 

Aug. 

● Henan (Jigong Shan). 

One of the largest plantations of Yulania for growing medicinal 

xinyi is found at Jigong Shan Forest Station in Xinying, Henan. This 

plant may be one of the many hybrids that originate in plantations with 

different Yulania species, probably with Yulania biondii as one of the 

parents. 

14. Yulania mirifolia D. L. Fu et al., Bull. Bot. Res., Harbin 

24: 261. 2004. 

奇叶玉兰 qi ye yu lan 

Trees, to 8 m tall. Juvenile twigs purplish brown, shiny, 

later densely pale yellow pubescent, glabrescent or with persistent 

trichomes. Stipules long lanceolate, 1.5–2 cm, abaxially 

densely silvery pubescent, apex obtuse; stipular scar conspicuous, 

less than 1/5 as long as petiole. Petiole 1.5–2.5(–5) cm, 

pubescent; leaf blade irregularly obtriangular, 9.2–16.5 × 7– 

11.5 cm, abaxially pale green and densely pubescent, adaxially 

glabrous but pubescent along midvein, secondary veins 6–9 on 

each side of midvein, reticulate veins conspicuous on both surfaces, 

base cuneate, apex with 2 irregular orbicular to triangular 

lobes. Brachyblasts densely pale yellowish white villous. Flower 

buds ovoid, 1.5–2.5 × 1–1.2 cm, apex obtuse; bracts 1(or 2), 

thickly leathery, abaxially densely pale brown villous. Flowers 

appearing before leaves. Tepals 12, white, spatulate-long elliptic, 

5.5–6.5 × 2.5–3.2 cm, pale purplish outside in middle at 

base, base narrowly cuneate, apex obtuse. Stamens 6–8 mm; 

filaments abaxially pale purple, ca. 2 mm; connective apex 

acute and with a ca. 1.5 mm mucro; anthers 4–6 mm, dehiscing 

latrorsely. Gynoecium pale green to green, terete, 1.2–2 cm; 

carpels many, densely white pubescent; styles pale green, 5–6 

mm. Fruit not seen. Fl. late Mar. 

MAGNOLIACEAE 

Hybrids or putative hybrids 

● Forests; ca. 600 m. Henan (Xinyang). 

This plant may be a hybrid between species of Yulania cultivated 

in the area for the production of medicinal xinyi. 

15. Yulania multiflora (M. C. Wang & C. L. Min) D. L. Fu, J. 

Wuhan Bot. Res. 19: 198. 2001. 

多花玉兰 duo hua yu lan 

Magnolia multiflora M. C. Wang & C. L. Min, Acta Bot. 

Boreal.-Occid. Sin. 12: 85. 1992. 

Trees, to 14 m tall, to 31 cm d.b.h. Bark gray. Annual 

twigs purplish green, smooth, glabrous. Stipular scar 1/6–1/5 as 

long as petiole. Petiole 1–2 cm; leaf blade obovate, 5–10 × 3.5– 

7 cm, abaxially grayish green, adaxially green and glabrous, 

secondary veins 6–8 on each side of midvein, base broadly cuneate, 

apex rounded and shortly acute. Flower buds densely 

grayish yellow sericeous, inserted on twig apex, enclosing 2 or 

3 flowers per bud and forming a thyrse, flowers cupular. Flowers 

appearing before leaves, fragrant. Tepals 12–14(or 15), 

white but outside pale red at base, narrowly obovate to obovatelanceolate, 

4.6–6.8 × 1.1–2.3 cm. Stamens 1.1–1.6 cm; filaments 

purplish red, ca. 4 mm; connective exserted and forming 

a mucro; anthers 7–8 mm, dehiscing laterally. Gynoecium 

green, cylindric, 1.8–3 cm. Fruit cylindric, 4–9 cm, usually 

curved because of carpels partly undeveloped; mature carpels 

grayish brown, globose and compressed, 0.7–1.5 cm in diam., 

abaxially tuberculate, dehiscing into 2 valves along dorsal sutures. 

Fl. May, fr. Aug–Sep. 

● Forests; 1600–1700 m. Shaanxi (Ningshan). 

This plant may be a hybrid between Yulania biondii and Y. sprengeri. 

Both species are grown for the production of medicinal xinyi and 

easily hybridize. 

16. Yulania pilocarpa (Z. Z. Zhao & Z. W. Xie) D. L. Fu, J. 

Wuhan Bot. Res. 19: 198. 2001. 

罗田玉兰 luo tian yu lan 

Magnolia pilocarpa Z. Z. Zhao & Z. W. Xie, Acta Pharmacol. 

Sin. 22: 777. 1987; Yulania pilocarpa var. ellipticifolia 

D. L. Fu et al. 

Trees, 12–15 m tall. Bark grayish brown. Young twigs 

purplish brown, glabrous. Stipular scar nearly 1/2 as long as 

petiole. Leaf blade obovate to broadly obovate, 10–17 × 8.5–11 

cm, papery, abaxially pale green, adaxially deep green, secondary 

veins 9–11 on each side of midvein, base cuneate to broadly 

cuneate, apex broadly rounded and slightly emarginate. Flower 

buds ovoid, ca. 3 cm, yellow villous. Flowers appearing before 

leaves. Tepals 9; outer 3 tepals yellowish green, sepal-like, 

sharply triangular, 1.7–3 cm, membranous; tepals of inner 2 

whorls white, nearly spoon-shaped, 7–10 × 3–5 cm, fleshy. Stamens 

numerous, ca. 1.1 cm; connective exserted and forming a 

ca. 1 mm mucro; anthers 8–9 mm, dehiscing laterally. Gynoecium 

ellipsoid-cylindric, ca. 2 cm; carpels pubescent; stigmas 

ca. 1 mm. Fruit cylindric, 10–20 × ca. 3.5 cm, with residual trichomes. 

Seeds bean-shaped to obovoid; testa red; endotesta 

black. Fl. Mar–Apr, fr. Sep. 

● Forests; ca. 500 m. Hubei (Luotian). 

This species is used medicinally.

This plant may be one of the many spontaneous hybrids that originate 

in plantations with different Yulania species grown for medicinal 

xinyi with Y. biondii as one of the parents. Yulania wugangensis (T. B. 

Chao et al.) D. L. Fu (J. Wuhan Bot. Res. 19: 198. 2001; Magnolia wugangensis 

T. B. Chao et al., Acta Bot. Yunnan. 21: 171. 1999) may be 

another hybrid from the same sort of medicinal plantation in Henan and 

also involving Y. biondii as one of its parents. 

17. Yulania ×soulangeana (Soulange-Bodin) D. L. Fu, J. 

Wuhan Bot. Res. 19: 198. 2001. 

二乔玉兰 er qiao yu lan 

Magnolia ×soulangeana Soulange-Bodin, Mém. Soc. 

Linn. Paris 1826: 269. 1826 [“soulangiana”]; M. yulan Desfontaines 

var. soulangeana (Soulange-Bodin) Lindley. 

Trees, 6–10 m tall. Twigs glabrous. Stipular scar ca. 1/3 as 

long as petiole. Petiole 1–1.5 cm, pubescent; leaf blade obovate, 

6–15 × 4–7.5 cm, basal ca. 2/3 gradually narrowing, papery, 

abaxially ± pubescent, adaxially with residual trichomes along 

midvein at base, secondary veins 7–9 on each side of midvein, 

base cuneate, apex shortly acute. Flower buds ovoid. Flowers 

appearing before leaves. Tepals 6–9, pale red to dark red; outer 

3 tepals usually ca. 2/3 as long as inner ones. Stamens 1–1.2 

cm; connective exserted and forming a mucro; anthers ca. 6 

mm, dehiscing laterally. Gynoecium cylindric, ca. 1.5 cm, glabrous. 

Fruit ca. 8 × 3 cm; mature carpels black, ovoid to obovoid, 

1–1.5 cm, with white lenticels. Seeds dark brown, 

broadly obovoid to obovoid, compressed laterally. Fl. Feb–Mar, 

fr. Sep–Oct. 2n = 76*. 

● Cultivated throughout most of China and occurring occasionally 

where the two parents grow together. 

This very ornamental hybrid between Yulania denudata and Y. 

liliiflora varies in the shape, size, and color of its tepals. Although originally 

named based on a hybrid made in Europe, the same hybridization 

occurs in China. There are about 20 cultivars in cultivation. 

MAGNOLIACEAE 

18. Yulania viridula D. L. Fu et al., Bull. Bot. Res., Harbin 24: 

263. 2004. 

青皮玉兰 qing pi yu lan 

Trees. Juvenile twigs pale yellowish green, robust, ca. 1 

cm in diam., shiny, sparsely to densely pubescent, later glabrescent, 

conspicuously lenticellate. Stipular scar ring conspicuously 

prominent, ca. 1/3 as long as petiole, densely pubescent. 

Petiole 3.5–4.5 cm, sparsely pubescent; leaf blade circular, elliptic, 

or broadly elliptic, 15–19.5 × 11.5–15.5 cm, papery, 

abaxially grayish green and villous along midvein and secondary 

veins, adaxially dark green and sparsely pubescent along 

midvein, secondary veins 6–9 on each side of midvein and 

spreading, base rotund to cordate, apex obtuse and rarely with a 

short mucro. Brachyblasts densely annular grayish white villous 

at apex, usually glabrous or pubescent from base to middle; 

bracts 3 or 4, abaxially densely pale yellow, brown, or grayish 

white villous; spathaceous bracts 1, blackish brown, membranous, 

abaxially densely pale gray villous. Flower buds pale yellowish 

green, ellipsoid to ovoid, 1.5–2.5 × 1.7–2.5 cm. Flowers 

appearing before leaves. Tepals 33–48, outside basal 1/2 red, 

inside pure white, narrowly elliptic, 5.7–7.2 × 1–1.5 cm, base 

narrowly cuneate, apex obtuse. Stamens ca. 80, 1.3–1.5 cm; 

filaments ca. 3 mm, abaxially purplish red; connective with ca. 

1 mm long mucro at apex; anthers dehiscing latrorsely. Gynoecium 

cylindric, ca. 3 cm; carpels many, green, glabrous; styles 

red, curved inward. Fruit not seen. Fl. Mar. 

● Forests; ca. 700 m. Shaanxi (Hanzhong). 

12. MICHELIA Linnaeus, Sp. Pl. 1: 536. 1753. 

The authors have not seen any specimens of this species, but judging 

from the description and illustration in the protologue it may be a 

hybrid between species of Yulania cultivated for the production of medicinal 

xinyi. 

含笑属 han xiao shu 

Champaca Adanson; Elmerrillia Dandy; Liriopsis Spach (1839), not Reichenbach (1828–1829); Paramichelia Hu; Sampacca 

Kuntze; Tsoongiodendron Chun. 

Trees or shrubs, evergreen. Stipules hooded, 2-valved, membranous, adnate to or free from petiole, annular scar persistent on 

petiole or twig. Leaves spirally arranged; leaf blade leathery, margin entire. Young leaves erect or folded in buds. Flowers pseudoaxillary 

on a brachyblast, solitary or rarely 1 flower bud surrounding 2 or 3 flower buds on different nodes and forming a 2- or 3flowered 

thyrse, bisexual, usually fragrant; bud surrounded by 2–4 deciduous spathaceous bracts. Peduncle with annular bract-scar 

but if bracts adnate to petiole then petiole with bract-scar. Tepals 6–21, 3 or 6 per whorl, subequal or rarely much smaller than outer 

whorl. Stamens numerous; filaments short or long; connective elongated, exserted and forming a long or short tip, rarely not 

exserted; anthers dehiscing laterally or nearly laterally. Gynoecium with or without a gynophore; carpels few or numerous, usually 

partly undeveloped, without abaxial longitudinal furrow, adaxial base inserted on rachis, apical part often distinct or rarely coherent; 

ovules 2 to several per carpel. Fruit usually terete when mature, often curved because of partly abortive carpels; mature carpels leathery 

or woody, completely persistent on fruiting axis, sessile or shortly stalked, dehiscing into 2 valves along dorsal sutures or along 

both dorsal and ventral sutures, sometimes fruit fleshy and tardily and irregularly dehiscent, or a woody syncarp, upper parts of carpels 

falling away while also dehiscing along dorsal suture, basal parts remaining attached to torus with their suspended seeds. Seeds 

2 to several per carpel, red or brown. 

About 70 species: tropical and subtropical Asia; 39 or 37 species including one or two hybrid species (20 or 18 endemic, one introduced) in 

China. 

“Michelia fadouensis D. X. Li & Y. W. Law,” “M. fugongensis D. X. Li & Y. W. Law,” “M. gigantea D. X. Li & R. Z. Zhou,” “M. gushanensis 

D. X. Li & Y. W. Law,” “M. pingbianica R. Z. Zhou & Q. W. Zeng,” and “M. virensipetala Y. W. Law & R. Z. Zhou” (in Y. H. Liu, Magnolias China, 

248, 259, 266, 272, 304, 322. 2004) are of uncertain identity and are probably the same as already published Michelia species but were not validly 

published because no Latin descriptions or diagnoses were provided and no types were indicated (Vienna Code, Art. 36.1 and 37.1). 

77

78 

MAGNOLIACEAE 

1a. Tepals unequal, outmost whorl membranous but others fleshy; stipules free from petiole ............................................... 37. M. gioi 

1b. Tepals subequal, ± fleshy; stipules free from or connate to petiole. 

2a. Tepals 6, in 2 whorls; stipules free from petiole. 

3a. Leaf blades glabrous on both surfaces. 

4a. Gynoecium glabrous. 

5a. Fruit 8–15 cm ................................................................................................................................................... 30. M. martini 

5b. Fruit 3.5–10 cm ............................................................................................................................................ 31. M. chapensis 

4b. Gynoecium with trichomes. 

6a. Brachyblasts with trichomes; tepals obovate-elliptic .................................................................................. 31. M. chapensis 

6b. Brachyblasts glabrous; tepals narrowly oblong to broadly lanceolate ...................................................... 32. M. xanthantha 

3b. Leaf blades at least abaxially with some trichomes. 

7a. Leaf blade 1.5–2.5 cm wide, secondary veins inconspicuous; tepals narrower and smaller, 

oblanceolate ............................................................................................................................................ 33. M. angustioblonga 

7b. Leaf blade 2.8–10 cm wide, secondary veins conspicuous; tepals broader and larger, obovate- 

elliptic, obovate, oblong, or narrowly elliptic (but unknown for M. leveilleana). 

8a. Leaf blades thinly leathery, both surfaces pubescent when young ........................................................... 36. M. leveilleana 

8b. Leaf blades thickly leathery or leathery, abaxially brown tomentose and adaxially glabrous. 

9a. Petiole 1.5–4 cm; mature carpels 2–6 cm ................................................................................................. 34. M. balansae 

9b. Petiole ca. 1 cm; mature carpels 1–2 cm ............................................................................................. 35. M. guangxiensis 

2b. Tepals 9 or more, in 3 or more whorls; stipules free from or connate to petiole. 

10a. Stipules adnate to petiole, leaving stipular scar on petiole. 

11a. Petiole shorter, usually not exceeding 5 mm; outer tepals smaller. 

12a. Gynoecium glabrous ............................................................................................................................................ 27. M. figo 

12b. Gynoecium with trichomes. 

13a. Tepals pale yellow, outer ones outside with brownish trichomes ...................................................... 29. M. skinneriana 

13b. Tepals white, purplish red, or dark purple, outer ones outside glabrous. 

14a. Tepals white; gynoecium exceeding androecium; fruit usually with 5–9 mature carpels ............. 26. M. yunnanensis 

14b. Tepals dark purple; gynoecium not exceeding androecium; fruit with more than 10 mature 

carpels .................................................................................................................................................. 28. M. crassipes 

11b. Petiole longer, often exceeding 5 mm; outer tepals larger. 

15a. Stipular scar shorter than 1/3 of petiole. 

16a. Tepals yellow. 

17a. Leaf blade thinly leathery, obovate, 20–27 × 7–11 cm, abaxially glaucous; tepals 8 .......................... 10. M. opipara 

17b. Leaf blade leathery, obovate to narrowly obovate, 9–15 × 3–7 cm, abaxially grayish white; 

tepals 9–12 ............................................................................................................................................. 11. M. wilsonii 

16b. Tepals white. 

18a. Twigs and petioles grayish white appressed pubescent ......................................................................... 7. M. doltsopa 

18b. Twigs and petioles with brownish trichomes. 

19a. Young twigs densely yellowish brown tomentose; petiole adaxially furrowed ....................................... 8. M. fulva 

19b. Young twigs brown pubescent; petiole not adaxially furrowed ................................................... 9. M. sphaerantha 

15b. Stipular scar longer than 1/3 of petiole. 

20a. Tepals obovate to spatulate. 

21a. Tepals white ......................................................................................................................................... 6. M. floribunda 

21b. Tepals yellow or ivory-yellow, red-dotted. 

22a. Stipular scar reaching middle of petiole; tepals yellow or ivory-yellow, red-dotted; fruit 

subellipsoid, ca. 13 × 9 cm; mature carpels connate .............................................................................. 4. M. odora 

22b. Stipular scar reaching apex of petiole; tepals yellow; fruit terete; mature carpels distinct ................... 5. M. kisopa 

20b. Tepals narrowly oblanceolate or narrowly lanceolate. 

23a. Young twigs densely gray tomentose; old twigs, fruiting brachyblasts, gynophores, and carpels 

pilose ........................................................................................................................................................ 1. M. velutina 

23b. Young parts pubescent, later pubescent or glabrous. 

24a. Tepals white ........................................................................................................................................... 38. M. ×alba 

24b. Tepals yellow or white but if white at least cream-colored in bud. 

25a. Leaf blade adaxially glabrous, midvein flat; fruit terete, 7–15 cm, mature carpels distinct ........ 2. M. champaca 

25b. Leaf blade adaxially brownish appressed villous at first, midvein impressed; fruit ellipsoid 

to ellipsoid-cylindric, 6–10 cm, mature carpels connate ................................................................. 3. M. baillonii 

10b. Stipules free from petiole, no stipular scar on petiole. 

26a. Tepals obovate, broadly obovate, or obovate-oblong.

MAGNOLIACEAE 

27a. Leaf blade glabrous on both surfaces. 

28a. Buds narrowly ellipsoid; twigs glabrous ............................................................................................... 22. M. shiluensis 

28b. Buds cylindric; twigs puberulous ............................................................................................................ 23. M. coriacea 

27b. Leaf blade with trichomes. 

29a. Tepals white .................................................................................................................................. 24. M. guangdongensis 

29b. Tepals pale yellow. 

30a. Leaf blade oblong-elliptic, elliptic-ovate, or ovate, 17–23 × 6–11 cm, reddish brown or 

silvery gray tomentose abaxially ......................................................................................................... 25. M. foveolata 

30b. Leaf blade obovate-oblong or narrowly elliptic, 9–18 × 4.5–5.5 cm, densely brown pubescent 

or golden yellow villous ........................................................................................................................ 39. M. elegans 

26b. Tepals spatulate-obovate, narrowly obovate, or spatulate. 

31a. Leaf blade glabrous on both surfaces. 

32a. Leaf blade abaxially glaucous .................................................................................................................. 12. M. maudiae 

32b. Leaf blade not abaxially glaucous. 

33a. Leaf blade oblong-elliptic to elliptic, 14–17 × 6–8 cm .............................................................................. 13. M. lacei 

33b. Leaf blade elliptic to narrowly elliptic, 7–10 × 1.7–2.3 cm ............................................................... 14. M. iteophylla 

31b. Leaf blade with some trichomes. 

34a. Androecium exceeding gynoecium ..................................................................................................... 15. M. fujianensis 

34b. Androecium not exceeding gynoecium. 

35a. Tepals yellow. 

36a. Leaf blade narrowly obovate, abaxially scattered with reddish brown erect trichomes ................... 11. M. wilsonii 

36b. Leaf blade narrowly ovate to narrowly elliptic, abaxially with brown silky trichomes ................. 16. M. flaviflora 

35b. Tepals white or red. 

37a. Bark fissured .................................................................................................................................... 17. M. masticata 

37b. Bark smooth. 

38a. Buds, young twigs, and young leaves with dense reddish brown silky trichomes or tomentose. 

39a. Leaf blade abaxially grayish white or mixed with reddish brown appressed trichomes; 

tepals 9 ...................................................................................................................................... 18. M. cavaleriei 

39b. Leaf blade abaxially glabrescent; tepals 9–12 .......................................................................... 20. M. macclurei 

38b. Buds, young twigs, and young leaves with brownish appressed trichomes or puberulous. 

40a. Gynoecium with fine golden trichomes .................................................................................. 19. M. compressa 

40b. Gynoecium brown tomentose or silvery appressed puberulous. 

41a. Leaf blade leathery, obovate, elliptic-obovate, rhomboid-obovate, rhomboid, or 

oblong-elliptic, 7–18 × 5–7 cm ............................................................................................. 20. M. macclurei 

41b. Leaf blade thinly leathery, rhomboid-elliptic, 6–13 × 3–5 cm ............................................. 21. M. mediocris 

1. Michelia velutina Candolle, Prodr. 1: 79. 1824. 

绒毛含笑 rong mao han xiao 

Magnolia lanuginosa (Wallich) Figlar & Nooteboom; M. 

velutina (Candolle) Figlar (2000), not P. Parmentier (1896); 

Michelia lanceolata E. H. Wilson; M. lanuginosa Wallich; Sampacca 

lanuginosa (Wallich) Kuntze. 

Trees, to 15–20 m tall, to 90 cm d.b.h. Bark dark brown. 

Young part densely gray long tomentose. Twigs, leaf blade 

adaxial midvein, brachyblasts, gynoecium stalks in fruiting, and 

mature carpels residually sparsely long tomentose. Twigs with 

spongy pith, diaphragmed sclerenchyma. Stipular scar ca. 1/2 as 

long as petiole. Petiole 1–2 cm, densely gray long tomentose; 

leaf blade narrowly elliptic to elliptic, 11.5–18.5 × 4–6 cm, 

thinly leathery, secondary veins 18–20 on each side of midvein, 

dense and slender, divergent, and reticulated 4–6 mm from margin, 

base broadly cuneate to obtuse, apex acute to slightly obtuse 

and with a short acumen. Flowers axillary near twig apex, 

8–10 cm in diam. Tepals 10–12, pale yellow, narrowly oblanceolate, 

4–6.5 × 1–1.8 cm; tepals of outer whorl sericeous; 

tepals of inner whorl smaller. Staminal connective exserted and 

forming a mucro. Gynoecium and carpels densely long tomentose. 

Fruiting brachyblasts 1–1.5 cm. Fruiting gynophore ca. 5 

mm, with lenticels and sparse long trichomes. Fruit 10–13 cm; 

mature carpels sparse or crowded at apical part of gynoecium, 

obovate, basally shrinking into gynophore, apex obtuse and mucronate. 

Seeds orangish yellow. Fl. May–Jun, fr. Aug–Sep. 2n = 

38. 

Forests, slopes; 1500–2400 m. S Xizang, Yunnan [Bhutan, NE 

India, Nepal]. 

2. Michelia champaca Linnaeus, Sp. Pl. 1: 536. 1753. 

黄兰 huang lan 

Trees, to 50 m or taller, to 1.9 m d.b.h. Buds, young twigs, 

young petioles, and young leaf blades pale yellow appressed 

pubescent. Twigs ascending and forming a narrow umbelliform 

crown. Stipular scar 0.3–1 × as long as petiole. Petiole 2–4 cm; 

leaf blade elliptic or ovate, 10–20(–30) × 4.5–10 cm, abaxially 

slightly puberulous, base broadly cuneate, cuneate, or rounded, 

apex long acuminate to subcaudate. Flowers fragrant. Tepals 

15–20, yellow, oblanceolate, 2–4 × 0.4–0.5 cm. Staminal connective 

exserted and forming a long tip. Gynophore ca. 3 mm; 

gynoecium with trichomes. Fruit 7–15 cm; mature carpels 

obovoid-ellipsoid, 1–1.5 cm, tuberculate. Seeds 2–4 per carpel, 

rugose. Fl. Jun–Jul, fr. Sep–Oct. 

79

80 

Evergreen broad-leaved forests; 200–1600 m. S Xizang, S and 

SW Yunnan; cultivated in Fujian, Guangdong, Guangxi, Hainan, Taiwan 

[India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, Nepal, Thailand, Vietnam]. 

1a. Leaf blade ovate, base cuneate to 

narrowly cuneate, apical acumen often 

quite long; stipular scar almost 0.5 × to 

as long as petiole .................................... 2a. var. champaca 

1b. Leaf blade ± elliptic, base cuneate to 

rounded, apical acumen often rather 

short; stipular scar 0.3–0.7 × as long 

as petiole ............................................... 2b. var. pubinervia 

2a. Michelia champaca var. champaca 

黄兰(原变种) huang lan (yuan bian zhong) 

Magnolia champaca (Linnaeus) Baillon ex Pierre; M. 

membranacea P. Parmentier; Michelia blumei Steudel; M. 

euononymoides N. L. Burman; M. pilifera Bakhuizen f.; M. 

rheedii Wight; M. suaveolens Persoon; M. tsiampacca Blume; 

M. tsiampacca var. blumei Moritzi; M. velutina Blume (1829), 

not Candolle (1824); Sampacca suaveolens (Persoon) Kuntze. 

Trees, to 30 m tall, to 50 cm d.b.h. Stipular scar almost 0.5 

× to as long as petiole. Leaf blade ovate, base cuneate to narrowly 

cuneate, apical acumen often quite long. 2n = 38. 

Cultivated. Fujian, Guangdong, Guangxi, Hainan, Taiwan [probably 

originally from India]. 


2b. Michelia champaca Linnaeus var. pubinervia (Blume) 

Miquel, Ann. Mus. Bot. Lugduno-Batavi 4. 72. 1868. 

毛叶脉黄兰 mao ye mai huang lan 

Michelia pubinervia Blume, Fl. Javae 19–20(Magnoliaceae): 

14. 1829; Magnolia champaca var. pubinervia (Blume) 

Figlar & Nooteboom. 

Trees, to 50 m tall or taller, to 1.9 m d.b.h. Stipular scar 

0.3–0.7 × as long as petiole. Leaf blade ± elliptic, base cuneate 

to rounded, apical acumen often rather short. 

Evergreen broad-leaved forests; 200–1500 m. S Xizang, S and 

SW Yunnan [India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, Nepal, Thailand, 

Vietnam]. 

3. Michelia baillonii (Pierre) Finet & Gagnepain, Bull. Soc. 

Bot. France 52(Mém. 4): 46. 1906. 

合果木 he guo mu 

Magnolia baillonii Pierre, Fl. Forest. Cochinch. 1: t. 2. 

1880; Aromadendron baillonii (Pierre) Craib; A. spongiocarpum 

(King) Craib; M. baillonii var. bailingia Sima & H. Jiang; M. 

phellocarpa (King) H. J. Chowdhery & P. Daniel; Michelia 

phellocarpa (King) Finet & Gagnepain; Paramichelia baillonii 

(Pierre) Hu; Talauma phellocarpa King; T. spongiocarpa King. 

Trees, to 35 m tall, to 1 m d.b.h. Young twigs, petioles, and 

leaf blade abaxial surfaces pale brown appressed villous. Stipular 

scar 1/3–1/2 as long as petiole. Petiole 1.5–3 cm; leaf blade 

elliptic, ovate-elliptic, or narrowly ovate, 6–22(–25) × 4–7 cm, 

adaxially at first brown appressed villous, midvein impressed 

MAGNOLIACEAE 

and remaining with long trichomes, secondary veins 9–15 on 

each side of midvein, reticulate veins dense, slender, and prominent 

on both surfaces when dry, base cuneate to broadly cuneate, 

apex acuminate. Brachyblasts 1–1.5 cm. Flowers fragrant. 

Tepals 18–21, 6 in a whorl, white but cream-colored in bud; 

tepals of outer 2 whorls oblanceolate, 2.5–2.7 × ca. 0.5 cm, 

gradually smaller and narrower inward; inner tepals lanceolate, 

ca. 2 cm × 2 mm. Stamens 6–7 mm; filaments 1–1.2 mm; connective 

exserted and forming a short sharp tip; anthers ca. 5 

mm. Gynophore ca. 3 mm, densely pale yellow pubescent; 

gynoecium narrowly ovoid, ca. 5 mm; carpels completely connate, 

densely pale yellow pubescent; styles red, ca. 1 mm. Fruit 

obovoid to ellipsoid-cylindric, 6–10 × ca. 4 cm, fleshy; mature 

carpels completely connate, flat, hooked, with dotted prominent 

lenticels; midribs of carpels persistent on fruiting axis after 

carpels dehisce. Fl. Mar–May, fr. Aug–Oct. 2n = 38. 

Forests; 500–1500 m. S Yunnan [Cambodia, India (Assam), Myanmar, 



4. Michelia odora (Chun) Nooteboom & B. L. Chen, Ann. 

Missouri Bot. Gard. 80: 1086. 1993. 

观光木 guan guang mu 

Tsoongiodendron odorum Chun, Acta Phytotax. Sin. 8: 

283. 1963; Magnolia odora (Chun) Figlar & Nooteboom. 

Trees, to 25 m tall. Bark pale grayish brown, deeply 

wrinkled. Twigs, buds, petioles, leaf blade abaxial surfaces and 

adaxial midvein, and brachyblasts yellowish brown strigose. 

Stipular scar nearly reaching middle of petiole. Petiole 1.2–2.5 

cm, flattened at base; leaf blade obovate-elliptic, 8–17 × 3.5–7 

cm, middle and apical part wider, adaxially green and glossy, 

midvein, secondary veins, and reticulate veins adaxially impressed, 

secondary veins 10–12 on each side, base cuneate, 

apex acute to obtuse. Brachyblasts ca. 6 mm, with 1 bract scar; 

spathaceous bract dehiscing along one side, pubescent. Flowers 

fragrant. Tepals ivory-yellow and red-dotted, narrowly obovateelliptic; 

outer tepals largest, 1.7–2 × 0.7–0.8 cm; innermost tepals 

1.5–1.6 × ca. 0.5 cm. Stamens 35–45, 7.5–8.5 mm; filaments 

white or reddish, 2–3 mm. Gynophore stout, ca. 2 mm, 

sulcate, densely strigose; carpels 9–13, narrowly ovoid, densely 

appressed pubescent, ventral sutures conspicuous; styles red, 

subulate, ca. 2 mm. Fruiting brachyblasts 1–2 × 1–2 cm. Fruit 

dark brown when dry, markedly yellow-dotted, long ellipsoid, 

sometimes globose because of upper carpels aborted, ca. 13 × 9 

cm, hanging on old twigs; pericarp olive green, glaucous, lenticellate; 

valves thick, 1–2 cm. Seeds 4–6 per carpel, ellipsoid to 

triangular-obovoid, ca. 1.5 × 0.8 cm. Fl. Mar, fr. Oct–Dec. 2n = 

38. 

Evergreen broad-leaved forests; 300–1100 m. Fujian, Guangdong, 

Guangxi, Hainan, S Hunan, S Jiangxi, SE Yunnan [N Vietnam]. 


5. Michelia kisopa Buchanan-Hamilton ex Candolle, Syst. Nat. 

1: 448. 1817. 

西藏含笑 xi zang han xiao 

Magnolia kisopa (Buchanan-Hamilton ex Candolle) Fig-

lar; Michelia doltsopa Buchanan-Hamilton ex Candolle subsp. 

kisopa (Buchanan-Hamilton ex Candolle) J. Li; Sampacca kisopa 

(Buchanan-Hamilton ex Candolle) Kuntze. 

Trees, 20–40 m tall, to 45 cm d.b.h., with appressed trichomes. 

Twigs pale brown pubescent when young and blackish 

brown when old, glabrous, with scattered lenticels; buds narrowly 

ovoid, 8–10 mm, densely brown pubescent. Stipular scar 

reaching petiole apex. Petiole 1.5–3 cm; leaf blade elliptic, oblong, 

or narrowly ovate, 9–15 × 3–5 cm, leathery, abaxially 

brown pubescent when young but glabrous when old, adaxially 

glabrous, secondary veins 7–11 on each side of midvein, reticulate 

veins dense and prominent on both surfaces when dry, 

base cuneate to rounded, apex acute to shortly acuminate. 

Brachyblasts ca. 4 mm, pubescent. Tepals 9, yellow; 6 tepals of 

outer whorl obovate, 2–2.2 × 0.9–1 cm; 3 tepals of inner whorl 

nearly spoon-shaped, 1.8–1.9 × 0.6–0.8 cm. Stamens 1–1.4 cm; 

filaments 4–6 mm; connective exserted and forming a 3–4 mm 

tip; anthers 6–8 mm. Gynophore ca. 5 mm, pubescent; gynoecium 

cylindric, 8–10 mm, pubescent; carpels ca. 2 mm; 

ovaries ovoid, ca. 1.5 mm, densely pubescent; styles ca. 0.5 

mm. Fruit 5–10 cm; mature carpels blackish brown, subglobose, 

ca. 1.3 cm in diam., scattered with white lenticels. Seeds 

red, broadly cordate, ca. 10 × 3–5 mm. Fl. Apr–May, fr. Sep– 

Oct. 2n = 38. 

Forests, slopes; 1600–2400 m. S Xizang (Mêdog, Nyalam) [Bhutan, 

NE India, Nepal]. 

6. Michelia floribunda Finet & Gagnepain, Bull. Soc. Bot. 

France 52(Mém. 4): 46. 1906. 

多花含笑 duo hua han xiao 

Magnolia floribunda (Finet & Gagnepain) Figlar; M. microtricha 

(Handel-Mazzetti) Figlar; Michelia kerrii Craib; M. 

microtricha Handel-Mazzetti. 

Trees, to 20 m tall. Bark gray, smooth. Young twigs 2–3 

mm in diam., with white appressed trichomes. Stipular scar 1/2 

or more as long as petiole. Petiole 1–1.5(–2.5) cm, with white 

appressed trichomes; leaf blade narrowly ovate-elliptic, narrowly 

ovate, or narrowly obovate-elliptic, 7–12(–14) × 2–4 cm, 

leathery, abaxially glaucous or not and with white long appressed 

trichomes, adaxially deep green and glossy, midvein 

impressed and usually with residual white trichomes, secondary 

veins 8–12 on each side of midvein and slender, reticulate veins 

dense, slender, and slightly prominent on both surfaces, base 

broadly cuneate to rounded, apex acuminate to caudate-acuminate. 

Brachyblasts 3–7 × ca. 3 mm, with dense silvery appressed 

fine trichomes, with 1 or 2 bract scars. Flowers narrowly 

ellipsoid, slightly curved, golden yellow appressed 

villous. Tepals 11–13, white, spoon-shaped to oblanceolate, 

2.5–3.5 × 0.4–0.7 cm, apex usually with a small tip. Stamens 

10–14; connective exserted and forming a long tip. Gynophore 

ca. 5 mm; gynoecium ca. 1 cm; carpels ca. 4 mm; ovaries 

ovoid, ca. 2 mm, densely silvery puberulous; styles as long as 

ovaries. Fruit 2–6 cm, wrinkled; mature carpels compressed 

globose to long spherical, 0.6–1.5 cm, white lenticellate, apex 

slightly tipped. Fl. Feb–Apr, fr. Aug–Sep. 2n = 38. 

Forests; 1300–2700 m. Chongqing, SW Hubei, Hunan, C Sichuan, 

SE Xizang, Yunnan [Laos, Myanmar, Thailand, Vietnam]. 

MAGNOLIACEAE 

7. Michelia doltsopa Buchanan-Hamilton ex Candolle, Syst. 

Nat. 1: 448. 1817. 

南亚含笑 nan ya han xiao 

Magnolia doltsopa (Buchanan-Hamilton ex Candolle) 

Figlar; M. excelsa Wallich; Michelia calcuttensis P. Parmentier; 

M. excelsa (Wallich) Blume ex Wight; M. manipurensis G. Watt 

ex Brandis; M. wardii Dandy; Sampacca excelsa (Wallich) 

Kuntze. 

Trees, to 30 m tall. Young twigs, buds, petioles, and leaf 

blade abaxial surfaces grayish white appressed pubescent. Stipular 

scar ca. 1/5 as long as petiole. Petiole 1–2 cm; leaf blade 

elliptic, oblong-elliptic, or narrowly elliptic, 10–22 × 5–7 cm, 


dense, slender, abaxially grayish, adaxially prominent when dry, 

and densely firmly finely pubescent, base broadly cuneate or 

obtuse, margin slightly involute, apex acute to long acute. 

Brachyblasts densely appressed villous. Tepals white, narrowly 

obovate-spoon-shaped, 5–7 × ca. 2.5 cm, base clawed, apex 

rounded. Stamens 1.2–1.7 cm; connective exserted and forming 

a 1.5–2 mm sharp tip; anthers 0.8–1.2 cm. Gynophore 6–8 mm, 

densely grayish firmly puberulous; gynoecium narrowly ovoid, 

1.5–2 cm; carpels 9–12 mm, densely grayish firmly pubescent; 

ovaries 4–5 mm; styles 5–7 mm. Fruit 4–7 cm; mature carpels 

nearly obovoid, ca. 1.5 cm, with residual appressed fine pubescence, 

apex acutely beaked. Fl. Apr–May, fr. Sep–Oct. 

Evergreen broad-leaved forests; 1500–2400 m. S and SE Xizang, 

NW Yunnan [Bhutan, NE India, N Myanmar, Nepal]. 

8. Michelia fulva Hung T. Chang & B. L. Chen, Acta Sci. Nat. 

Univ. Sunyatseni 3: 87. 1987. 

棕毛含笑 zong mao han xiao 

Magnolia fulva (Hung T. Chang & B. L. Chen) Figlar; M. 

fulva var. calcicola (C. Y. Wu ex Y. H. Law & Y. F. Wu) Sima 

& Hong Yu; M. glaucophylla Sima & Hong Yu; M. ingrata (B. 

L. Chen & S. C. Yang) Figlar; Michelia calcicola C. Y. Wu ex 

Y. H. Law & Y. F. Wu; M. ingrata B. L. Chen & S. C. Yang. 

Trees, 3–15 m tall, to 40 cm d.b.h. Bark grayish brown. 

Old twigs dark brown, 5–7 mm in diam., glabrous, lenticellate; 

young twigs yellowish brown tomentose; buds cylindric to 

narrowly ovoid, 2.5–3.5 cm, yellowish brown to golden yellow 

tomentose. Stipular scar ca. 1/4 as long as petiole. Petiole robust, 

1.5–4.5 cm, adaxially furrowed, yellowish brown tomentose; 

leaf blade elliptic to ovate-elliptic, 13–24 × 4.5–12 cm, 

thickly leathery, abaxially glaucous, adaxially glabrous or appressed 

villous at first, and with trichomes but glabrescent, 

midvein abaxially evidently prominent and adaxially appressed, 


dense and prominent on both surfaces, base obtuse, apex acuminate 

to acute. Brachyblasts and bracts densely yellowish 

brown tomentose; brachyblasts robust, 1–2 cm; spathaceous 

bracts 3. Flowers 4–5 cm in diam. Tepals 9–12(–14), white 

or yellow, obovate to elliptic, subequal, fleshy; inner tepals 

smaller, 4.4–5.3 × 1–3 cm. Stamens numerous; filaments 4–8 

mm; connective exserted and forming a mucro; anthers 1.5–2.9 

cm. Gynophore 0.6–2.4 cm, pubescent; gynoecium terete, 2.4– 

4.8 cm; carpels ca. 152, narrowly ovoid, densely golden yellow 

81

82 

pubescent; styles 1–2.5 mm. Mature carpels ovoid, sessile, ca. 

1.5 × 1 cm, apex shortly beaked. Fl. Mar, fr. Nov. 

● Limestone forests; 600–1700 m. S Guangxi, SE Yunnan. 

“Michelia rufivillosa D. X. Li & S. C. Yang” and “M. xanthostemina 

D. X. Li & Y. W. Law” (in Y. H. Liu, Magnolias China, 312, 

326. 2004) belong here but were not validly published because no Latin 

descriptions or diagnoses were provided and no types were indicated 

(Vienna Code, Art. 36.1 and 37.1). 

9. Michelia sphaerantha C. Y. Wu ex Z. S. Yue, Acta Bot. 

Yunnan. 9: 413. 1987. 

球花含笑 qiu hua han xiao 

Magnolia elliptilimba (B. L. Chen & Nooteboom) Figlar; 

M. sphaerantha (C. Y. Wu ex Z. S. Yue) Sima; Michelia elliptilimba 

B. L. Chen & Nooteboom. 

Trees, 5–16 m tall. Bark grayish green, smooth. Young 

twigs, stipule abaxial surfaces, petioles, leaf blade on both surfaces, 

brachyblasts, bracts, gynophores, and carpels brown pubescent. 

Stipular scar 3–4 mm. Petiole 2–2.5 cm, pubescent; 

leaf blade elliptic to obovate-elliptic, 16–22 × 7.5–10 cm, thinly 

leathery, abaxially glaucous, adaxially green, midvein abaxially 

evidently prominent and adaxially impressed, secondary veins 

9–14 on each side of midvein, reticulate veins dense and 

prominent on both surfaces when dry, base rounded, apex acute 

to acuminate. Brachyblasts 3–3.5 cm, with 3 or 4 bract scars. 

Tepals 11 or 12, white, subequal; outer 3 tepals obovate, 5.5– 

7.5 × 2.5–3 cm, base attenuate; inner tepals obovate to spatulate, 

narrower and smaller. Stamens numerous, 2–2.4 cm; connective 

exserted and forming a ca. 0.5 mm triangular mucro; 

anthers ca. 1.5 mm. Gynophore ca. 1 cm; gynoecium terete, ca. 

3 cm; carpels numerous, ovoid, 4–5 mm; styles glabrous. Fruit 

19–24 cm; mature carpels dark brown, ovoid, whitish lenticellate, 

dehiscing into 2 valves, valve ca. 2 mm thick. Fl. Mar, fr. 

Jul. 

● Evergreen broad-leaved forests; 1800–2000 m. C Yunnan (Jingdong). 

10. Michelia opipara Hung T. Chang & B. L. Chen, Acta Sci. 

Nat. Univ. Sunyatseni 3: 90. 1987. 

马关含笑 ma guan han xiao 

Magnolia opipara (Hung T. Chang & B. L. Chen) Sima. 

Trees, deciduous or semideciduous, to 16 m tall, to 50 cm 

d.b.h. Old twigs grayish yellow, rough; juvenile twigs brown, 

terete, glabrous or with trichomes when young, with elliptic 

grayish yellow prominent lenticels; buds long ovoid, with white 

silky trichomes. Stipular scar 1/4–1/3 as long as petiole. Petiole 

2.5–3 cm; leaf blade obovate to broadly obovate, 20–27 × 7–11 

cm, thinly leathery, abaxially glaucous and at first grayish white 

pubescent but glabrescent, adaxially green and glabrous or at 

first grayish white pubescent, midvein adaxially slightly impressed 

and abaxially conspicuously prominent, pubescent, but 

glabrescent, secondary veins 13–18 on each side of midvein, 

reticulate veins dense and prominent on both surfaces when dry, 

base cuneate to rounded, apex abruptly acute. Brachyblasts 4–6 

mm, robust, gray pubescent; bracts 3, spathaceous, outermost 

bract appressed yellow pubescent, innermost ones spreadingly 

MAGNOLIACEAE 

pubescent. Flower buds ellipsoid, ca. 4.2 × 1.6 cm. Tepals 8, 

yellow; outer 3 tepals obovate, ca. 3.8 × 1.5 cm; innermost 2 

tepals oblanceolate, ca. 3.4 × 1 cm, thinly fleshy. Androecium 

narrowly ellipsoid, ca. 2.3 cm; stamens ca. 93, 1.3–2 cm; filaments 

2–4 mm; connective exserted and forming a mucro; anthers 

0.9–1.4 cm. Gynophore ca. 8 mm; carpels ca. 140, ovoid, 

grayish white to pale yellow tomentose; styles 1.5–2 mm, glabrous. 

Fruiting brachyblasts ca. 1.5 cm, pale yellow pubescent. 

Fruit 11.5–14.3 cm; mature carpels ovoid, 1.5–2 × 0.9–1.1 cm, 

with lenticels, apex shortly beaked. Seeds 1 or 2 per carpel. Fl. 

Apr, fr. Sep–Oct. 


(Maguan). 

This could well be a variety of Michelia doltsopa. 

11. Michelia wilsonii Finet & Gagnepain, Bull. Soc. Bot. 

France 52(Mém 4): 45. 1906. 

峨眉含笑 e mei han xiao 

Trees, to 25 m tall. Old twigs densely noded and lenticellate; 

young twigs green, pale brown or reddish brown sparsely 

appressed pubescent; terminal buds cylindric. Stipular scar 2–4 

mm or absent. Petiole 1.5–4 cm; leaf blade obovate to narrowly 

obovate, 9–15 × 3–7 cm, leathery, abaxially glaucous and 

sparsely white glossy appressed pubescent or with scattered 

reddish brown erect trichomes, adaxially glabrous and glossy, 

secondary veins 8–13 on each side of midvein and slender, 

reticulate veins slender, dense, and prominent on both surfaces 

when dry, base cuneate to broadly cuneate, apex acute, shortly 

acuminate, or caudate. Brachyblasts with 2–4 bract scars. Flowers 

5–6 cm in diam., fragrant. Tepals 9–12, yellow, obovate, 

narrowly obovate, or oblanceolate, 2–5 × 1–2.5 cm, slightly 

fleshy; tepals of inner whorl smaller. Stamens 1–2 cm; filaments 

green, ca. 2 mm; connective exserted and forming a ca. 1 

mm mucro; anthers 0.8–1.2 cm, dehiscing introrsely. Gynoecium 

cylindric, 3.5–4 cm; carpels 3–6 mm; ovaries ovoid to 

ovoid-ellipsoid, with dense silvery or yellow appressed fine 

trichomes; ovules ca. 14 per carpel; styles nearly as long to as 

long as ovaries. Fruit 6–15 cm; fruiting torus wrinkled; mature 

carpels purplish brown, ellipsoid to obovoid, 1–2.5 cm, with 

grayish yellow lenticels, 2-valved, apex with a curved short 

beak. Fl. Mar–May, fr. Aug–Sep. 

● Forests; 600–2000 m. Chongqing, Guizhou, SW and W Hubei, 

Hunan, Jiangxi, C, S, and W Sichuan, NE and SE Yunnan. 

1a. Petiole with a 2–4 mm 

stipular scar .......................................... 11a. subsp. wilsonii 

1b. Petiole without a stipular scar ...... 11b. subsp. szechuanica 

11a. Michelia wilsonii subsp. wilsonii 

峨眉含笑(原亚种) e mei han xiao (yuan ya zhong) 

Magnolia ernestii Figlar; Michelia sinensis Hemsley & E. 

H. Wilson. 

Trees, to 20 m tall. Petiole with a 2–4 mm stipular scar. Fl. 

Mar–May, fr. Aug–Sep. 2n = 38*. 

● Forests; 600–2000 m. Guizhou, SW Hubei, Jiangxi, C and W 

Sichuan, SE Yunnan.

11b. Michelia wilsonii subsp. szechuanica (Dandy) J. Li, Acta 

Bot. Yunnan. 19: 137. 1997. 

川含笑 chuan han xiao 

Michelia szechuanica Dandy, Notes Roy. Bot. Gard. Edinburgh 

16: 131. 1928; Magnolia ernestii subsp. szechuanica 

(Dandy) Sima & Figlar; M. szechuanica (Dandy) Figlar. 

Trees, to 25 m tall. Petiole without a stipular scar. 

● Forests; 800–1600 m. Chongqing, N Guizhou, W Hubei, Hunan, 

S Sichuan, NE Yunnan. 

12. Michelia maudiae Dunn, J. Linn. Soc., Bot. 38: 353. 1908. 

深山含笑 shen shan han xiao 

Magnolia maudiae (Dunn) Figlar; Michelia chingii W. C. 

Cheng. 

Trees, to 20 m tall, glabrous. Bark pale gray or grayish 

brown, thin. Young twigs, buds, leaf blade abaxial surfaces, and 

bracts white powdery. Petiole 1–3 cm, without a stipular scar; 

leaf blade oblong-elliptic to rarely ovate-elliptic, 7–18 × 3.5– 

8.5 cm, leathery, abaxially grayish green and glaucous, adaxially 

deep green and glossy, secondary veins 7–12 on each side 

of midvein, straight or slightly curved, and divaricate and 

netted, reticulate veins dense, base cuneate, broadly cuneate, or 

obtuse, apex abruptly shortly acuminate to shortly acuminate 

and with an obtuse tip. Brachyblasts green, with 3 annular bract 

scars; spathaceous bracts pale brown, ca. 3 cm, thinly leathery. 

Flowers fragrant. Tepals 9, white but base slightly pale red; 

outer tepals obovate, 5–7 × 3.5–4 cm, base ca. 1 cm clawed, 

apex shortly acute; tepals of inner 2 whorls gradually narrowing, 

nearly spoon-shaped, apex acute. Stamens 1.5–2.2 cm; 

filaments pale purple, flat, ca. 4 mm; connective exserted and 

forming a 1–2 mm tip. Gynophore 5–8 mm; gynoecium 1.5–1.8 

cm; carpels green, narrowly ovoid, 5–6 mm including style. 

Fruit 7–15 cm; mature carpels ellipsoid, obovoid, or ovoid, 

apex obtuse or abruptly mucronate. Seeds red, obliquely ovoid, 

ca. 10 × 5 mm, slightly compressed. Fl. Feb–Mar, fr. Sep–Oct. 

2n = 38*. 

● Evergreen broad-leaved forests; 600–1500 m. S Anhui, Fujian, 

Guangdong, Guangxi, Guizhou, Jiangxi, Hunan, S Zhejiang. 


for timber. 

13. Michelia lacei W. W. Smith, Notes Roy. Bot. Gard. Edinburgh 

12: 216. 1920. 

壮丽含笑 zhuang li han xiao 

Magnolia lacei (W. W. Smith) Figlar; Michelia magnifica 

Hu; M. pachycarpa Y. W. Law & R. Z. Zhou; M. tignifera 

Dandy; M. uniflora Dandy. 

Trees, to 15 m tall, to 18 cm d.b.h. Twigs 0.7–1 cm in 

diam., sparsely pale brown villous when young, later glabrescent, 

with elliptic coarse lenticels. Petiole 2.5–3 cm, without a 

stipular scar; leaf blade oblong-elliptic to elliptic, 14–17 × 6–8 

cm, leathery, both surfaces glabrous, adaxially green and glossy, 

midvein impressed and abaxially dark green, secondary veins 

15–20 on each side of midvein, reticulate veins prominent on 

MAGNOLIACEAE 

both surfaces when dry, base broadly cuneate and slightly decurrent 

on petiole, margin slightly reflexed, apex acuminate to 

acute. Brachyblasts 3–4 cm, stout, with brown long trichomes 

on nodes, with 3 or 4 bract scars; spathaceous bracts several, 

thin, with white appressed trichomes. Tepals 9, in 3 whorls; 

outer 3 tepals obovate-spoon-shaped, ca. 6 × 2.5 cm, base 

clawed; innermost tepals 3–5.5 × ca. 1 cm. Stamens ca. 2.3 cm; 

filaments ca. 3 mm; connective exserted and forming a 1–2 mm 

mucro; anthers ca. 2 cm, dehiscing laterally. Gynophore ca. 2.5 

cm, puberulous; gynoecium ca. 1.7 cm; carpels ca. 12, narrowly 

ovoid, ca. 4 mm, glabrous; ovules 10 per carpel; styles 3–4 mm. 

Fruit not seen. Fl. Feb. 2n = 38. 

Forests; ca. 1500 m. SE Yunnan (Luxi, Maguan) [Myanmar, N 


14. Michelia iteophylla C. Y. Wu ex Y. W. Law & Y. F. Wu, 

Acta Bot. Yunnan. 10: 337. 1988. 

鼠刺含笑 shu ci han xiao 

Trees, to 8 m tall. Twigs brown to yellowish brown, glabrous, 

scattered with lenticels; buds cylindric, ca. 1.4 cm, 

brownish tomentulose. Stipules free from petiole. Petiole 0.8– 

1.2 cm, without a stipular scar; leaf blade elliptic to narrowly 

elliptic, 7–10 × 1.7–2.3 cm, leathery, both surfaces glabrous, 

midvein adaxially slightly impressed, secondary veins 11–15 on 


both surfaces when dry, base cuneate, apex acuminate. Brachyblasts 

6–7 mm, glabrous or strigose when young. Flowers fragrant. 

Tepals 9, white, narrowly obovate, ca. 2.8 × 0.8–1 cm, 

subequal. Stamens many, ca. 7 mm; filaments ca. 1 mm; connective 

exserted and forming a ca. 1 mm mucro; anthers ca. 5 

mm. Gynophore ca. 6 mm, very finely strigose; gynoecium 

ovoid, ca. 6 mm, very finely strigose; carpels many, ca. 2 mm; 

ovaries ovoid, ca. 1.8 mm, very finely strigose; styles ca. 0.2 

mm. Fruit dark brown, 5–7 cm, ovoid, whitish lenticellate, 

completely dehiscing into 2 valves when matured. Fl. Dec–Jan, 

fr. Oct. 

● Forests; 1600–1700 m. SE Yunnan (Jinping). 

15. Michelia fujianensis Q. F. Zheng, Bull. Bot. Res., Harbin 

1(3): 92. 1981. 

福建含笑 fu jian han xiao 

Magnolia fujianensis (Q. F. Zheng) Figlar; Michelia 

caloptila Y. W. Law & Y. F. Wu; M. septipetala Z. L. Nong. 

Trees, to 16 m tall, to 1 m d.b.h. Bark grayish white, 

smooth. Young twigs, buds, petioles, leaf blade abaxial surfaces, 

leaf blade adaxial surfaces when young, and brachyblasts 

densely appressed grayish white to brown villous. Twigs black, 

ca. 3 mm in diam., remaining with pubescence. Petiole 0.6–1.5 

cm, without a stipular scar; leaf blade narrowly elliptic to narrowly 

obovate-elliptic, 8–15 × 3–5 cm, midvein adaxially impressed, 


veins slender, dense, and prominent on both surfaces 

when dry, base rounded to broadly cuneate, apex acuminate to 

acute. Brachyblasts stout, ca. 7 mm; bract scar 1, ca. 2 mm 

below tepals; spathaceous bract 1, just next to tepals. Flower 

buds ovoid, ca. 1.5 cm. Tepals ca. 12, in 4 whorls; outer tepals 

83

84 

3, narrowly obovate, 1–1.2 cm; tepals of next inward whorl 

obovate, 1.3–1.5 cm; tepals of innermost 2 whorls narrowly 

ovate, narrower and smaller, ca. 1 cm. Androecium exceeding 

gynoecium; stamens 4–5.5 mm; filaments broad and flat, 1–1.5 

mm; connective exserted and forming a 1–1.5 mm obtuse tip; 

anthers 3.5–4 mm, thecae divaricate 0.5–0.8 mm away from 

each other, dehiscing introrsely and laterally. Gynophore ca. 1 

mm, pubescent; gynoecium cylindric, ca. 5 mm; ovaries globose, 

densely tomentulose. Fruit usually curved because of 

carpels partly undeveloped, 2–3 cm; mature carpels black, obovoid, 

1.5–2 cm, conspicuously white lenticellate, apex rounded. 

Seeds broad and flat, transversely ellipsoid, ca. 1.5 × 1 cm, 

adaxially broadly furrowed, base mucronate, apex impressed; 

endotesta black. Fl. Apr–May, fr. Aug–Sep. 

● Evergreen broad-leaved forests; 300–700 m. Fujian (Yong’an), 

Jiangxi. 

16. Michelia flaviflora Y. W. Law & Y. F. Wu, Acta Bot. Yunnan. 

10: 340. 1988. 

素黄含笑 su huang han xiao 

Magnolia flaviflora (Y. W. Law & Y. F. Wu) Figlar. 

Trees, ca. 15 m tall. Old twigs scattered with lenticels; 

young twigs brown tomentulose; buds pale yellow tomentose. 

Stipules free from petiole. Petiole 0.5–1.2 cm, tomentulose, 

without a stipular scar, base slightly flattened; leaf blade narrowly 

ovate to narrowly elliptic, 15–24 × 3.6–5.5 cm, papery, 

abaxially glaucous and brown sericeous, adaxially green and 

glabrous, midvein adaxially slightly prominent to flat, secondary 

veins 16–24 on each side of midvein, base cuneate, apex 

acuminate. Brachyblasts ca. 1 cm, yellow tomentose. Flowers 

fragrant. Tepals 15, pale yellow, oblanceolate. Stamens ca. 90, 

1.1–1.5 cm; connective exserted and forming a 1–2 mm sharp 

tip; anthers 7–10 mm. Gynophore ca. 1 cm, tomentose; gynoecium 

narrowly ovoid, ca. 1.2 cm; carpels many, ovoid, ca. 4 

mm, distinct, densely villous; styles ca. 2 mm. Fruit not seen. 

Fl. Feb. 

Evergreen broad-leaved forests; 1400–1500 m. SE Yunnan (Dawei 

Shan, Pingbian) [Vietnam]. 

17. Michelia masticata Dandy, J. Bot. 67: 222. 1929. 

屏边含笑 ping bian han xiao 

Magnolia masticata (Dandy) Figlar. 

Trees, 18–25 m tall, to 80 cm d.b.h. Bark grayish brown, 

irregularly fissured, conspicuously lenticellate. Twigs yellowish 

green when young and dark green when old, pubescent or 

glabrous when young, shiny, white lenticellate. Petiole 2–3(–4) 

cm, without a stipular scar; leaf blade broadly elliptic, ellipticoblong, 

ovate, or obovate, 12–22(–28) × 5–8(–10) cm, leathery, 

abaxially pubescent, adaxially glabrous and slightly shiny green, 

midvein and secondary veins abaxially prominent and adaxially 

impressed, secondary veins 8–13 on each side of midvein, reticulate 

veins dense and prominent on both surfaces when dry, 

base cuneate to rounded, apex shortly acuminate. Brachyblasts 

ca. 1 cm, with yellow silky trichomes; bracts 3. Tepals 9–12, 

white to yellowish white, subequal; outer 3 tepals obovate, 

MAGNOLIACEAE 

narrowly obovate, or spatulate, 5–9(–11) × 1–2.5 cm; inner 

tepals narrower. Stamens numerous, ca. 2 cm; anthers ca. 1.5 

mm. Gynophore ca. 1 cm, pubescent; gynoecium terete, 3– 

6(–8) cm, pubescent; carpels numerous, ca. 6 mm; styles ca. 2.2 

mm. Fruit 10–40(–53) cm; mature carpels dark brown, ovoid, 

densely white lenticellate, dehiscing completely into 2 valves, 

valves ca. 2 mm thick. Fl. Apr–May, fr. Oct. 

Forests; 1100–1300 m. SE Yunnan (Pingbian) [Laos, Vietnam]. 


18. Michelia cavaleriei Finet & Gagnepain, Bull. Soc. Bot. 

France 53: 573. 1906. 

平伐含笑 ping fa han xiao 

Trees, 10–20 m tall, to 50 cm d.b.h., many branched. Bark 

grayish white. Young twigs, buds, petioles, leaf blade abaxial 

surfaces when young, brachyblasts, and fruiting brachyblasts 

silvery to reddish brown appressed pubescent. Twigs black. 

Petiole 1.5–3 cm, becoming black with age, without a stipular 

scar; leaf blade narrowly oblong to narrowly obovate-oblong, 

10–20(–24) × 3.5–7 cm, thinly leathery, abaxially glaucous and 

silvery to reddish brown pubescent, adaxially with remaining 

trichomes, midvein impressed, secondary veins slender, 11–15 

on each side of midvein, reticulate veins dense and prominent 

on both surfaces, base cuneate to broadly cuneate, apex acuminate 

to shortly acute. Brachyblasts 1.5–2.5 cm, with 1 or 2 

bract scars; spathaceous bracts densely reddish brown appressed 

villous. Flower buds narrowly ovoid, ca. 3 cm. Tepals 9 

or ca. 12, white, papery, with pellucid glands; outer 3 tepals 

obovate-elliptic, 2.5–7 cm, gradually narrower and smaller inward. 

Stamens 1.2–1.4 cm, grayish yellow pubescent; connective 

exserted and forming a ca. 1 mm tip; anthers ca. 8 mm, 

dehiscing introrsely. Gynophore ca. 4 mm; gynoecium narrowly 

ovoid, ca. 1 cm; carpels ca. 4 mm; ovaries ovoid, densely puberulous; 

styles grayish yellow pubescent, nearly as long as 

ovaries. Fruit 5–15 cm; mature carpels obovoid to ellipsoid, 

1.5–2 cm, white lenticellate, 2-valved, apex rounded to rarely 

mucronate. Fl. Mar–Apr, fr. Sep–Oct. 2n = 38*. 

● Forests; 800–2400 m. Fujian, E and N Guangdong, Guangxi, 

Guizhou, W Hubei, SW Hunan, SE Sichuan, Yunnan. 

1a. Twigs ca. 4 mm in diam.; tepals ca. 12, 

outer ones 2.5–4 cm ............................. 18a. var. cavaleriei 

1b. Twigs ca. 2 mm in diam.; tepals 9, 

outer ones 5–7 cm ............................. 18b. var. platypetala 

18a. Michelia cavaleriei var. cavaleriei 

平伐含笑(原变种) ping fa han xiao (yuan bian zhong) 

Magnolia cavaleriei (Finet & Gagnepain) Figlar; M. maudiae 

(Dunn) Figlar var. hunanensis (C. L. Peng & L. H. Yan) Sima; 

Michelia fallax Dandy; M. hunanensis C. L. Peng & L. H. 

Yan; M. xinningia Y. W. Law & R. Z. Zhou. 

Trees, to 10 m tall. Twigs ca. 4 mm in diam. Tepals ca. 12, 

outer ones 2.5–4 cm. 2n = 38*. 

● Forests; 800–2400 m. Fujian, N Guangdong, Guangxi, Guizhou, 

W Hubei, SW Hunan, SE Sichuan, Yunnan.

18b. Michelia cavaleriei var. platypetala (Handel-Mazzetti) 

N. H. Xia, comb. nov. 

阔瓣含笑 kuo ban han xiao 

Basionym: Michelia platypetala Handel-Mazzetti, Anz. 

Akad. Wiss. Wien, Math.-Naturwiss. Kl. 58: 89. 1921; Magnolia 

maudiae var. platypetala (Handel-Mazzetti) Sima. 

Trees, to 20 m tall. Twigs ca. 2 mm in diam. Tepals 9, 

outer ones 5–7 cm. 

● Forests; 1200–1500 m. E Guangdong, NE Guangxi, E Guizhou, 

W Hubei, SW Hunan. 

“Michelia yunshanensis Y. W. Law & R. Z. Zhou” and “M. 

xiangnanensis Q. W. Zeng & Y. W. Law” (in Y. H. Liu, Magnolias 

China, 334. 2004) belong here but were not validly published because 

no Latin descriptions or diagnoses were provided and no types were 


19. Michelia compressa (Maximowicz) Sargent, Gard. & Forest 

5: 75. 1893. 

台湾含笑 tai wan han xiao 

Magnolia compressa Maximowicz, Bull. Acad. Imp. Sci. 

Saint-Pétersbourg, Sér. 3, 17: 417. 1872; Michelia compressa 

var. formosana Kanehira; M. compressa var. lanyuensis S. Y. 

Lu; M. formosana (Kanehira) Masamune & Suzuki. 

Trees, to 17 m tall, to 1 m d.b.h. Bark grayish brown, 

smooth. Axillary buds, young twigs, petioles, and leaf blade 

midvein with brown appressed short trichomes. Petiole 0.8–1.2 

cm, without a stipular scar; leaf blade obovate-elliptic to narrowly 

elliptic, 5–7 × 2–3 cm, thinly leathery, secondary veins 

8–12 on each side of midvein, reticulate veins sparse, slightly 

prominent on both surfaces when dry, base cuneate, apex acute, 

acumen obtuse to sharp. Brachyblasts 6–7 mm, appressed pubescent, 

with 1 or 2 bract scars. Flower buds golden yellow appressed 

sericeous. Tepals 12, pale yellowish white to pale reddish 

near base, narrowly obovate, 12–15 × 3–5 mm. Stamens 

ca. 45, 5–6 mm; connective exserted and forming a 1–1.8 mm 

long tip; anthers 3.5–4 mm, dehiscing laterally. Gynophore ca. 

3 mm; gynoecium ca. 4 mm, with golden yellow fine trichomes. 

Fruit 3–5 cm; mature carpels ellipsoid to ovoid, 1.5–2 

× 1.1–1.4 cm, dehiscing dorsally, apex mucronate. Seeds 2–4 

per carpel, pink. Fl. Jan, fr. Oct–Nov. 2n = 38. 

Evergreen broad-leaved forests; 200–2600 m. Taiwan [S Japan, 

Philippines]. 


20. Michelia macclurei Dandy, J. Bot. 66: 360. 1928. 

醉香含笑 zui xiang han xiao 

Magnolia macclurei (Dandy) Figlar; Michelia macclurei 

var. sublanea Dandy; M. multitepala R. Z. Zhou & S. G. Jian. 

Trees, to 30 m tall, to 1 m d.b.h. Bark grayish white, 

smooth and not fissured. Young twigs, buds, petioles, stipules, 

and brachyblasts densely firmly and glossy reddish brown 

shortly tomentose to spreading villous. Petiole 1.5–4 cm, adaxially 

narrowly furrowed, without a stipular scar; leaf blade obo- 

MAGNOLIACEAE 

vate, elliptic-obovate, rhomboid, or oblong-elliptic, 7–18 × 5–7 

cm, leathery, abaxially with grayish trichomes mixed with 

brown appressed short tomentum, adaxially at first pubescent 

but later glabrescent, secondary veins 10–15 on each side of 

midvein, slender, and adaxially inconspicuous, reticulate veins 

slender, forming a honeycomb pattern, base cuneate to broadly 

cuneate, apex shortly acute to acuminate. Brachyblasts 1–1.8 

cm, 3–4 mm in diam., with 2–3 bract scars. Flower buds sometimes 

enclosing 2 or 3 small flower buds on different nodes and 

forming a 2- or 3-flowered thyrse. Tepals usually 9–12, white, 

rarely red, spoon-shaped to oblanceolate, 3–5 cm; inner tepals 

narrower and smaller. Stamens 1–2 cm; filaments red, ca. 1 

mm; connective exserted and forming a ca. 1 mm mucro; anthers 

0.8–1.4 cm. Gynophore 1–2.5 cm, densely brown tomentose; 

gynoecium 1.4–2 cm; carpels ovoid to narrowly ovoid, 1– 

3 × ca. 1.5 cm, sparsely white lenticellate, dehiscing into 2 

valves along both ventral and dorsal sutures, base broad, apex 

rounded. Seeds 1–3 per carpel, compressed ovoid, 0.8–1 × 0.6– 

0.8 mm. Fl. Feb–Apr, fr. Sep–Nov. 

Evergreen broad-leaved forests; 200–1500 m. Guangdong, N 

Guangxi, Hainan, SE Yunnan (Xichou) [N Vietnam]. 

“Michelia ovatifolia Y. W. Law & R. Z. Zhou” (in Y. H. Liu, Magnolias 

China, 300. 2004) belongs here but was not validly published 




21. Michelia mediocris Dandy, J. Bot. 66: 47. 1928. 

白花含笑 bai hua han xiao 

Magnolia mediocris (Dandy) Figlar; Michelia mediocris 

var. angustifolia G. A. Fu; M. rubriflora Y. W. Law & R. Z. 

Zhou; M. subulifera Dandy. 

Trees, to 25 m tall, to 90 cm d.b.h. Bark grayish brown. 

Young twigs and young leaf blades grayish white appressed 

pubescent. Buds reddish brown, pendulous, apex acute. Petiole 

1.5–3 cm, without a stipular scar; leaf blade rhomboid-elliptic, 

6–13 × 3–5 cm, thinly leathery, abaxially grayish white appressed 

puberulous, adaxially glabrous, secondary veins 10–15 

on each side of midvein, slender, and inconspicuous, reticulate 

veins dense, base cuneate to broadly cuneate, apex shortly acuminate. 

Spathaceous bracts 3. Flower buds ellipsoid, 10–15 × 

5–9 mm, densely brownish yellow to grayish white appressed 

puberulous. Tepals 9, white, spoon-shaped, 1.8–2.2 × 0.5–0.8 

cm. Stamens 1–1.5 cm; connective exserted and forming a 3–4 

mm long tip; anthers 0.8–1.4 cm. Gynophore 3–5 mm, densely 

silvery appressed puberulous; gynoecium cylindric, ca. 1 cm; 

carpels 7–14; ovules 4 or 5 per carpel. Fruit blackish brown 

when matured, 2–3.5 cm; mature carpels obovoid, ellipsoid, or 

globose, 1–2 cm, slightly compressed, white lenticellate, apex 

with an obtuse beak. Seeds 5–8 × ca. 5 mm; testa bright red. 

Fl. Oct–Feb, fr. Jun–Nov. 

Evergreen broad-leaved forests; 400–1000 m. Guangdong, Guangxi, 

Hainan, S Hunan [Cambodia, Vietnam]. 

“Michelia biacuminata Y. W. Law & R. Z. Zhou” and “M. 

elliptifolia Y. W. Law & R. Z. Zhou” (in Y. H. Liu, Magnolias China, 

85

86 

224, 246. 2004) belong here but were not validly published because no 

Latin descriptions or diagnoses were provided and no types were 


22. Michelia shiluensis Chun & Y. F. Wu, Acta Phytotax. Sin. 

8: 286. 1963. 

石碌含笑 shi lu han xiao 

Magnolia shiluensis (Chun & Y. F. Wu) Figlar. 

Trees, to 18 m tall, to 30 cm d.b.h. Bark gray. Twigs, leaf 

blades, and petioles glabrous. Terminal buds narrowly ellipsoid, 

orangish yellow to gray, glossy pubescent. Petiole 1–3 cm, 

broadly furrowed, without a stipular scar; leaf blade obovateoblong, 

8–14(–20) × 4–7(–8) cm, leathery and rigid, abaxially 

glaucous, adaxially deep green, secondary veins 8–12 on each 

side of midvein, reticulate veins prominent on both surfaces 

when dry, base cuneate to broadly cuneate, apex obtuse and 

mucronate. Tepals 9, in 3 whorls, white, obovate, 3–4.5 × 1.5– 

2.5 cm. Stamens 2–2.5 cm; filaments red. Gynoecium 1.4–2.1 

cm, puberulous; carpels ovoid, 2.5–4 mm. Fruiting brachyblasts 

2–3 cm. Fruit 4–5 cm; mature carpels sometimes only a few 

developed, obovoid to obovoid-ellipsoid, 0.8–1.2 cm, apex 

shortly beaked. Seeds broadly ellipsoid, ca. 8 mm. Fl. Mar– 

May, fr. Jun–Aug. 2n = 38*. 

● Evergreen broad-leaved forests, ravines, beside trails; 200–1500 

m. Hainan. 


23. Michelia coriacea Hung T. Chang & B. L. Chen, Acta Sci. 

Nat. Univ. Sunyatseni 3: 89. 1988. 

西畴含笑 xi chou han xiao 

Magnolia coriacea (Hung T. Chang & B. L. Chen) Figlar; 

Michelia nitida B. L. Chen; M. polyneura C. Y. Wu ex Y. W. 

Law & Y. F. Wu. 

Trees, 10–20 m tall. Twigs thick and strong, 5–7 mm in 

diam., sparsely puberulous, with grayish yellow lenticels; buds 

cylindric, densely gray pubescent. Stipules free from petiole. 

Petiole 1–1.5 cm, without a stipular scar, adaxially furrowed; 

leaf blade oblong to elliptic-oblong, 11–15 × 4–6 cm, thinly 

leathery, both surfaces glabrous, midvein abaxially prominent 

and adaxially slightly impressed, secondary veins 17–20 on 


both surfaces, base cuneate to obtuse, apex acuminate. Brachyblasts 

ca. 2.5 mm, densely yellow tomentose. Tepals 9, in 3 

whorls, white, oblong to obovate-oblong, 2.3–3 × 0.8–1 cm, 

subequal. Stamens ca. 80, 0.8–1 cm; connective exserted and 

forming a 1.5–2 mm sharp tip; anthers 4–5 mm. Gynophore 2– 

7 mm but 1.2–1.5 cm in fruit; gynoecium cylindric, 1–1.2 cm, 

glabrous; carpels many. Fruit 3–4 cm; mature carpels yellowish 

green, with dense lenticels. Fl. Feb–Apr, fr. Sep–Oct. 

● Evergreen broad-leaved forests; 1200–1700 m. SE Yunnan. 

24. Michelia guangdongensis Y. H. Yan et al., Ann. Bot. Fenn. 

41: 491. 2004. 

广东含笑 guang dong han xiao 

Shrubs or small trees, 1–4 m tall, to 10 cm d.b.h. Bark 

grayish brown. Young twigs and buds densely reddish brown 

MAGNOLIACEAE 

appressed pubescent. Petiole 0.5–1.5 cm, densely reddish 

brown villous, without a stipular scar; leaf blade obovateelliptic 

to obovate, 4.5–9 × 2.5–4.5 cm, leathery, abaxially reddish 

brown appressed villous, adaxially dark green and glabrous, 


veins dense, base rounded to broadly cuneate, margin slightly 

revolute, apex rounded to shortly acute. Brachyblasts 1.5–2.8 × 

0.3–0.5 cm; spathaceous bract 1. Flower buds long ovoid, 

densely reddish brown appressed villous. Flowers fragrant. 

Tepals 9–12, white, base slightly greenish; outer 3–5 tepals 

ovate-elliptic, 5.6–6.2 × 2.5–3 cm; middle 3 or 4 tepals elliptic 

to obovate-elliptic, 5.6–7 × 2.7–3 cm; inner 3 tepals elliptic, 

5.4–7 × 1.9–2.5 cm. Stamens 50–70, pale green, 1.1–1.5 cm; 

filaments purplish red, ca. 3 mm; connective exserted and 

forming a ca. 1 mm triangular mucro; anthers 6–8 mm. Gynophore 

green, 6–8 mm, puberulous; gynoecium green, terete, 

0.9–1.4 cm, reddish brown pubescent; carpels 13–20; ovules 4– 

6 per carpel; styles purplish red, 1–3 mm, curved outward. Fruit 

not seen. Fl. Mar. 

● Thickets, forests; 1200–1400 m. Guangdong (Yingde). 


25. Michelia foveolata Merrill ex Dandy, J. Bot. 66: 360. 1928. 

金叶含笑 jin ye han xiao 

Magnolia foveolata (Merrill ex Dandy) Figlar; Michelia 

aenea Dandy; M. foveolata var. cinerascens Y. W. Law & Y. F. 

Wu; M. foveolata var. xiangnanensis C. L. Peng & L. H. Yan; 

M. fulgens Dandy; M. longistyla Y. W. Law & Y. F. Wu; M. 

oblongifolia Hung T. Chang & B. L. Chen. 

Trees, to 30 m tall, to 80 cm d.b.h. Bark pale gray to dark 

gray. Young twigs, buds, petioles, leaf blade abaxial surfaces, 

and brachyblasts densely reddish brown, brown, or white tomentulose. 

Petiole 1.5–3 cm, without a stipular scar; leaf blade 

oblong-elliptic, elliptic-ovate, or narrowly ovate, 17–23 × 6–11 

cm, thickly leathery, abaxially coppery to gray tomentulose, 

adaxially deep green and glossy, secondary veins 16–26, ends 

slender, divaricate, and netted near margin, reticulate veins 

dense, base broadly cuneate, obtuse, or subcaudate and usually 

asymmetrical, apex acuminate to shortly acuminate. Brachyblasts 

ca. 5 mm in diam., with 3 or 4 bract scars. Tepals 9–12, 

pale yellowish green, base purplish; outer 3 tepals broadly obovate, 

6–7 cm; tepals of middle and inner whorls obovate, narrower 

and smaller. Stamens ca. 50, 2.5–3 cm; filaments dark 

purple, 7–10 mm; anthers 1.5–2 cm. Gynophore 1.7–2 cm, silvery 

tomentulose; gynoecium 2–3 cm; carpels ca. 5 mm; ovaries 

narrowly ovoid, ca. 3 mm, adnate to torus at base; ovules 

ca. 8 per carpel. Fruit 7–20 cm; mature carpels long ellipsoid, 

1–2.4 cm. Fl. Mar–May, fr. Sep–Oct. 2n = 38. 

Evergreen broad-leaved forests, wet places; 500–1800 m. Fujian, 

Guangdong, S Guangxi, SE Guizhou, Hainan, W Hubei, Hunan, Jiangxi, 

SE Yunnan [N Vietnam]. 

26. Michelia yunnanensis Franchet ex Finet & Gagnepain, 

Bull. Soc. Bot. France 52(Mém 4): 43. 1906. 

云南含笑 yun nan han xiao 

Magnolia amabilis Sima & Y. H. Wang; M. dianica Sima

& Figlar; M. laevifolia (Y. W. Law & Y. F. Wu) Nooteboom; 

Michelia dandyi Hu; M. laevifolia Y. W. Law & Y. F. Wu; M. 

yunnanensis var. angustifolia Finet & Gagnepain; M. yunnanensis 

subsp. glabrifolia Y. K. Li & J. F. Zuo. 

Shrubs, to 4 m tall. Twigs and leaves dense. Young twigs, 

buds, young leaf blade adaxial surfaces, petioles, and brachyblasts 

with dark red appressed trichomes. Stipular scar ca. 2/3 

as long as petiole or reaching petiole apex. Petiole 4–5 mm; leaf 

blade obovate, narrowly obovate, or narrowly obovate-elliptic, 

4–10 × 1.5–3.5 cm, leathery, abaxially with appressed trichomes, 

adaxially deep green and glossy, secondary veins 7–9 

on each side of midvein, reticulate veins prominent on both surfaces 

when dry, base cuneate, apex obtuse to shortly acute. Brachyblasts 

thick and strong, 3–7 mm, with 1 bract scar. Flowers 

very fragrant. Tepals 6–12(–17), white, obovate to obovate-elliptic, 

3–3.5 × 1–1.5 cm; inner tepals smaller. Stamens 5–10 

mm; filaments white, ca. 3 mm; connective exserted and forming 

a 1–3 mm mucro; anthers 5–7 mm. Gynophore and gynoecium 

with reddish brown appressed fine trichomes; gynoecium 

ovoid to long ellipsoid, 1–1.3 cm; carpels 8–20, compressed 

globose, 3–4 mm; ovules 5 or 6 per carpel; styles ca. 1 mm, 

longitudinally furrowed. Fruit usually with 5–9 mature carpels; 

mature carpels compressed globose, 5–8 mm wide, with trichomes, 

apex mucronate. Seeds 1 or 2 per carpel. Fl. Mar–Apr, 

fr. Aug–Sep. 2n = 38*. 

● Thickets; 1100–2300 m. Guizhou, Sichuan, SE Xizang, C and S 

Yunnan. 

This species is grown as an ornamental and used for making perfume. 

27. Michelia figo (Loureiro) Sprengel, Syst. Veg. 2: 643. 1825. 

含笑花 han xiao hua 

Liriodendron figo Loureiro, Fl. Cochinch. 1: 347. 1790; 

Liriopsis fuscata (Andrews) Spach; Magnolia annonifolia 

Salisbury; M. figo (Loureiro) Candolle; M. fuscata Andrews; M. 

fuscata var. annonifolia (Salisbury) Candolle; M. fuscata var. 

hebeclada Candolle; M. fuscata var. parviflora (Blume) Steudel; 

M. parviflora Blume; M. parvifolia Candolle; Michelia fuscata 

(Andrews) Blume; M. parviflora Delessert (1821), not Rumphius 

ex Candolle (1817); Sampacca parviflora Kuntze. 

Shrubs, 2–3 m tall. Bark grayish brown. Twigs and leaves 

dense. Young twigs, buds, petioles, and brachyblasts densely 

yellowish brown tomentose. Stipular scar reaching petiole apex. 

Petiole 2–4 mm; leaf blade narrowly elliptic to obovate-elliptic, 

4–10 × 1.8–4.5 cm, abaxially midvein with brown appressed 

trichomes but other parts glabrescent, adaxially glossy and glabrous, 

base cuneate to broadly cuneate, apex obtusely acute. 

Flowers 1.2–2 × 0.6–1.1 cm, erect, sweetly fragrant. Tepals 6, 

pale yellow but margin sometimes red to purple, long elliptic, 

1.2–2 × 0.6–1.1 cm, fleshy and thick. Stamens 7–8 mm; connective 

exserted and forming a sharp tip. Gynophore ca. 6 mm, 

pale yellow tomentose; gynoecium ca. 7 mm, exceeding androecium, 

glabrous. Fruit 2–3.5 cm; mature carpels ovoid to 

globose, apex with a mucronate beak. Fl. Mar–May, fr. Jul– 

Aug. 2n = 38*. 

MAGNOLIACEAE 

● Cultivated throughout most of S China and probably originated 

in cultivation. 

This species is grown as an ornamental and used medicinally. It is 

cultivated in most other tropical, subtropical, and warm temperate regions 

of the world. 

Loureiro published Liriodendron figo based on a plant cultivated 

in Macao. Although the type was probably destroyed, the plant today 

identified as Michelia figo is identical with Loureiro’s description. 

28. Michelia crassipes Y. W. Law, Bull. Bot. Res., Harbin 5(3): 

121. 1985. 

紫花含笑 zi hua han xiao 

Magnolia figo (Loureiro) Candolle var. crassipes (Y. W. 

Law) Figlar & Nooteboom; Michelia brevipes Y. K. Li & 

Wang; M. figo (Loureiro) Sprengel var. crassipes (Y. W. Law) 

B. L. Chen & Nooteboom. 

Trees or shrubs, 2–5 m tall. Young twigs, buds, petioles, 

and peduncles densely reddish brown to yellow long tomentose. 

Bark grayish brown. Stipular scars as long as petiole. Petiole 2– 

4 mm; leaf blade narrowly oblong, obovate, narrowly obovate, 

or rarely narrowly elliptic, 7–13 × 2.5–4 cm, leathery, abaxially 

green and villous along veins, adaxially dark green, glabrous, 

and glossy, base cuneate to broadly cuneate, apex long caudatecuspidate 

to acute. Flowers very fragrant. Tepals 6, purplish red 

to dark purple, long elliptic, 1.8–2 × 0.6–0.8 cm. Stamens ca. 1 

cm; connective exserted into a short tip; anthers ca. 6 mm. 

Gynophore ca. 2 mm; gynoecium ca. 8 mm, not exceeding androecium, 

densely pilose; carpels ovoid, 3.5–4 mm, densely 

pilose; style 2 mm. Fruit 2.5–5 cm; brachyblast 1–2 × 0.3–0.5 

cm; mature carpels more than 10, compressed ovoid to compressed 

globose, papillate and with trichomes. Fl. Apr–May, fr. 

Aug–Sep. 

● Evergreen broad-leaved forests, ravines; 300–1000 m. N 

Guangdong, NE Guangxi, S Hunan. 

One of the co-authors (Nooteboom) considers that Michelia crassipes 

and M. skinneriana probably represent the wild forms of M. (Magnolia) 

figo and would be better treated as varieties of that species. 


29. Michelia skinneriana Dunn, J. Linn. Soc., Bot. 38: 354. 

1908. 

野含笑 ye han xiao 

Michelia amoena Q. F. Zheng & M. M. Lin; M. linyaoensis 

D. C. Zhang & S. B. Zhou. 

Trees, to 15 m tall. Young twigs, buds, petioles, leaf blade 

midrib abaxially, and peduncles densely brown villous. Bark 

grayish white, smooth. Stipular scars as long as petiole. Petiole 

2–4 mm; leaf blade narrowly obovate-elliptic, oblanceolate, or 

narrowly elliptic, 5–11(–14) × 1.5–3.5(–4) cm, leathery, abaxially 

sparsely brown villous, adaxially dark green and glossy, 


sparse and prominent on both surfaces when dry, base cuneate, 

apex long caudate-acuminate. Flowers fragrant. Peduncle slender. 

Tepals 6, pale yellow, obovate, 1.6–2 cm; outer tepals with 

87

88 

brown trichomes at base. Stamens 6–10 mm; connective exserted 

into a ca. 0.5 mm mucro; anthers 4–5 mm, latrorse. 

Gynophore 4–7 mm, with dense brown trichomes; gynoecium 

ca. 6 mm; carpels with dense brown trichomes. Fruit 4–7 cm, 

usually curved or shortened due to carpels partly undeveloped; 

peduncle slender; mature carpels black, globose to ellipsoid, 1– 

1.5 cm, beak mucronate. Fl. May–Jun, fr. Aug–Sep. 2n = 38*. 

● Forests, ravines, slopes; below 1200 m. Fujian, Guangdong, 

Guangxi, Hunan, Jiangxi, Zhejiang. 

One of the co-authors (Nooteboom) considers that Michelia skinneriana 

and M. crassipes probably represent the wild forms of M. 

(Magnolia) figo and would be better treated as varieties of that species. 

“Michelia microphylla Y. W. Law & R. Z. Zhou” (in Y. H. Liu, 


because no Latin description or diagnosis was provided and no 

type was indicated (Vienna Code, Art. 36.1 and 37.1). 


30. Michelia martini (H. Léveillé) Finet & Gagnepain ex H. 

Léveillé, Fl. Kouy-Tchéou, 270. 1914–1915. 

黄心含笑 huang xin han xiao 

Magnolia martini H. Léveillé, Bull. Soc. Agric. Sarthe 39: 

321. 1904; Michelia bodinieri Finet & Gagnepain; M. longistamina 

Y. W. Law. 

Trees, to 20 m tall. Bark gray, smooth. Old twigs brown, 

scattered with lenticels; young twigs olive green, glabrous; buds 

ovoid to ellipsoid-ovoid, with dense grayish yellow to reddish 

brown erect long trichomes. Petiole 1.5–2 cm, without a stipular 

scar; leaf blade narrowly obovate-elliptic, 12–18 × 3–5 cm, 

leathery, both surfaces glabrous, adaxially deep green and 

glossy, midvein abaxially prominent, secondary veins 11–17 on 

each side of midvein and nearly parallel, base cuneate to 

broadly cuneate, apex acute to shortly caudate. Brachyblasts 

thick and strong, ca. 7 mm, densely yellowish brown tomentose. 

Flowers fragrant. Tepals 6–8, pale yellow; outer tepals 

obovate-oblong, 4–4.5 × 2–2.4 cm; inner tepals oblanceolate, 

ca. 4 × 1.1–1.3 cm. Stamens 1.3–1.8 cm; filaments purple; connective 

exserted and forming a ca. 0.5 mm tip; anthers 1–1.2 

cm, dehiscing laterally. Gynoecium pale green, ca. 3 cm; carpels 

ellipsoid-ovoid, ca. 1 cm; ovules 8–12 per carpel; styles 

nearly as long as carpels. Fruit 8–15 cm, wrinkled; mature carpels 

obovoid to ellipsoid-ovoid, 1–2 cm, dehiscing along both 

ventral and dorsal sutures at same time, white lenticellate, apex 

shortly beaked. Fl. Feb–Mar, fr. Aug–Oct. 2n = 38. 

Forests; 1000–2000 m. Guangdong, Guangxi, Guizhou, S Henan, 

W Hubei, Hunan, C and S Sichuan, E Yunnan [Vietnam]. 

“Michelia funingensis D. X. Li & Y. W. Law” (in Y. H. Liu, 




This species is grown as an ornamental. It is used for making perfume 

and for timber. 

31. Michelia chapensis Dandy, J. Bot. 67: 222. 1929. 

乐昌含笑 le chang han xiao 

MAGNOLIACEAE 

Magnolia chapensis (Dandy) Sima; M. jiangxiensis (Hung 

T. Chang & B. L. Chen) Figlar; M. microcarpa (B. L. Chen & 

S. C. Yang) Sima; Michelia brachyandra B. L. Chen & S. C. 

Yang; M. chartacea B. L. Chen & S. C. Yang; M. constricta 

Dandy; M. glaberrima Hung T. Chang; M. jiangxiensis Hung T. 

Chang & B. L. Chen; M. microcarpa B. L. Chen & S. C. Yang; 

M. tsoi Dandy. 

Trees, 15–30 m tall, to 1 m d.b.h. Bark gray to dark brown. 

Twigs glabrous or nodes grayish puberulous when young. Petiole 

1–2.5 cm, adaxially furrowed, glabrous or puberulous when 

young but later glabrescent, without a stipular scar; leaf blade 

obovate, narrowly obovate, or oblong-obovate, 6.5–15(–16) × 

3–6.5(–7) cm, thinly leathery, adaxially deep green and glossy, 

secondary veins 9–12(–15) on each side of midvein, reticulate 

veins sparse, base cuneate, broadly cuneate, or obtuse, apex 

acute to shortly acuminate, acumen obtuse. Brachyblasts 4– 

10 mm, appressed gray puberulous, with 2–5 bract scars. Flowers 

fragrant. Tepals 6, in 2 whorls, pale yellow; outer tepals 

obovate-elliptic, ca. 3 × 1.5 cm; inner tepals narrower. Stamens 

1.7–2 cm; connective exserted and forming a ca. 1 mm 

mucro; anthers 1.1–1.5 cm. Gynophore ca. 7–10 mm, densely 

silvery appressed puberulous; gynoecium narrowly cylindric, 

ca. 1.5 cm; carpels ovoid, ca. 2 mm; ovules 6 per carpel; styles 

ca. 1.5 mm. Fruiting brachyblasts ca. 2 mm. Fruit 3.5–10 cm; 

mature carpels ellipsoid to ovoid, 1–1.5 × ca. 1 cm, base broad, 

apex with short and curved tip. Seeds red, ovoid to ellipsoidovoid, 

ca. 10 × 6 mm. Fl. Mar–Apr, fr. Aug–Nov. 

Evergreen broad-leaved forests; 500–1700 m. N and W Guangdong, 

NE and SE Guangxi, Guizhou, S and W Hunan, S Jiangxi, SE 

Yunnan [N Vietnam]. 


32. Michelia xanthantha C. Y. Wu ex Y. W. Law & Y. F. Wu, 

Acta Bot. Yunnan. 10: 338. 1988. 

黄花含笑 huang hua han xiao 

Magnolia xanthantha (C. Y. Wu ex Y. W. Law & Y. F. Wu) 

Figlar. 

Trees, to 30 m tall, to 1 m d.b.h. Twigs blackish brown to 

grayish yellow, ca. 4.5 mm in diam., scattered with lenticels; 

buds cylindric, ca. 1.5 cm, glabrous. Stipules free from petiole. 

Petiole 2–2.5 cm, without a stipular scar; leaf blade elliptic to 

obovate-elliptic, 15–17 × 6.2–7.5 cm, thinly leathery, both surfaces 

glabrous, midvein abaxially slightly prominent and adaxially 

prominent, secondary veins 11 or 12 on each side of midvein, 

reticulate veins prominent on both surfaces, base cuneate 

to obtuse, apex shortly cuspidate. Brachyblasts ca. 1.5 cm, glabrous. 

Flowers fragrant. Tepals 6, in 2 whorls, yellow, narrowly 

oblong to broadly oblanceolate, 4–5.5 × 1–1.5 cm. Stamens 

2.3–2.5 cm; connective exserted and forming a 1–2 mm sharp 

tip; anthers 1.8–2 cm. Gynophore 2–3 mm; gynoecium cylindric, 

1.8–2 cm, densely gray pubescent; carpels many, ovoid, 3– 

4 mm, densely gray pubescent; styles brown, ca. 1 mm. Fruit 

ca. 21 cm, pendulous; mature carpels dark brown, scattered 

with lenticels. Fl. Mar, fr. Sep–Oct. 

● Forests; 1300–1400 m. S Yunnan (Xishuangbanna).

33. Michelia angustioblonga Y. W. Law & Y. F. Wu, Bull. Bot. 

Res., Harbin 6(2): 97. 1986. 

狭叶含笑 xia ye han xiao 

Magnolia angustioblonga (Y. W. Law & Y. F. Wu) Figlar. 

Trees, to 4 m, glossy, with appressed indument. Twigs 

black; buds densely brown villous. Stipules free from petiole. 

Petiole 1–1.5 cm, without a stipular scar; leaf blade narrowly 

oblong, 6.5–10 × 1.5–2.5 cm, leathery, abaxially grayish green 

and villous, adaxially deep green, midvein abaxially prominent, 

secondary veins inconspicuous, reticulate veins dense and conspicuous 

when dry, base cuneate to broadly cuneate, apex obtuse. 

Brachyblasts pilose. Tepals 6, in 2 whorls, white, oblanceolate; 

outer 3 tepals 1.8–2 × 0.4–0.5 cm; inner 3 tepals 1.4– 

1.6 cm. Stamens 1.1–1.5 cm; connective exserted and forming a 

mucro; anthers 6–10 mm. Gynophore ca. 3 mm; gynoecium 

embedded in androecium, narrowly ellipsoid, ca. 1 cm; carpels 

brown puberulous. Fruit not seen. Fl. Apr. 

● Forests; ca. 1000 m. Guizhou (Libo). 

34. Michelia balansae (Aug. Candolle) Dandy, Bull. Misc. 

Inform. Kew 1927: 263. 1927. 

苦梓含笑 ku zi han xiao 

Magnolia balansae Aug. Candolle, Bull. Herb. Boissier, 

sér. 2, 4: 294. 1904; Michelia balansae var. appressipubescens 

Y. W. Law; M. balansae var. brevipes B. L. Chen; M. baviensis 

Finet & Gagnepain; M. tonkinensis A. Chevalier. 

Trees, 7–10 m tall, to 60 cm d.b.h. Bark gray to grayish 

brown, smooth. Young twigs, buds, petioles, leaf blade abaxial 

surfaces, flower buds, and brachyblasts densely brown tomentose 

or with appressed fine trichomes. Petiole 1.5–4 cm, without 

a stipular scar, base flattened; leaf blade oblong-elliptic to 

obovate-elliptic, 10–20(–28) × 5–10(–12) cm, abaxially veins 

evidently prominent and brown tomentose, adaxially subglabrous, 

secondary veins 12–15 on each side of midvein with 

ends arching upward and becoming reticulate, base broadly cuneate, 

apex abruptly acute. Flowers fragrant. Tepals 6, white 

and pale greenish, obovate-elliptic, 3.5–3.7 × 1.3–1.5 cm; 

innermost tepals oblanceolate, smaller. Stamens 1–1.5 cm; connective 

exserted and forming a mucro; anthers 8–10 mm. Gynophore 

4–6 mm, yellowish brown tomentose; gynoecium ovoid. 

Fruiting gynophore 4.5–7 cm. Fruit 7–12 cm; mature carpels 

ellipsoid-ovoid, obovoid, or cylindric, 2–6 × 1.2–1.5 cm, apex 

with a reflexed 3–5 mm beak. Seeds nearly ellipsoid, 1–1.5 cm, 

one end or both ends truncate; testa bright red; endotesta brown. 

Fl. Mar–Jul, fr. Aug–Oct. 2n = 38. 

Evergreen broad-leaved forests, along rivers; 300–1000 m. S 

Fujian, S and SW Guangdong, S Guangxi, Guizhou, Hainan, S Yunnan 

[Vietnam]. 

Magnolia balansae and Michelia baviensis were published based 

on the same gathering (Balansa 3886, but Finet and Gagnepain wrongly 

cited the number as “3386”) from Mt. Bavi, Vietnam. 

“Michelia bailina Y. W. Law & R. Z. Zhou” (in Y. H. Liu, 




MAGNOLIACEAE 


35. Michelia guangxiensis Y. W. Law & R. Z. Zhou, J. Trop. 

Subtrop. Bot. 7: 191. 1999. 

广西含笑 guang xi han xiao 

Magnolia guangxiensis (Y. W. Law & R. Z. Zhou) Sima. 

Trees, 5–10 m tall, 10–20 cm d.b.h. Bark brown. Young 

twigs, buds, petioles, and brachyblasts densely brown tomentose. 

Twigs of current year green; older twigs grayish brown, 

glabrous. Petiole ca. 1 cm, without a stipular scar or stipular 

scar 1–3 mm; leaf blade oblong to ovate-oblong, 6–15 × 3–5 

cm, leathery, abaxially grayish green and with sparse brown 

trichomes, adaxially shiny dark green and glabrous, midvein 

abaxially prominent, secondary veins 9–11 on each side, reticulate 

veins dense and prominent on both surfaces when dry, base 

cuneate to broadly cuneate, apex acute to shortly acuminate. 

Flowers fragrant. Tepals 6, in 2 whorls, white, subequal, fleshy; 

outer 3 tepals obovate, 3–4 × 1.3–1.5 cm; inner 3 tepals narrowly 

obovate, 3–4 × 1–1.3 cm. Stamens many, 1.2–1.5 cm; 

connective exserted and forming a ca. 0.5 mm mucro; anthers 

ca. 1 cm. Gynophore 4–5 mm, densely brown firmly appressed 

pubescent; gynoecium ellipsoid-ovoid, ca. 1 cm; ovaries ovoid, 

ca. 3 mm; ovules (2–)4(or 5) per carpel; styles ca. 1 mm. Fruit 

5–10 cm; mature carpels 10–15, ovoid, obovoid, or ellipsoidovoid, 

1–2 cm, completely dehiscing into 2 valves, apex shortly 

beaked. Fl. Apr–May, fr. Sep–Oct. 

● Forests; 2100–2200 m. Guangxi (Longsheng). 

36. Michelia leveilleana Dandy, Bull. Misc. Inform. Kew 1927: 

263. 1927. 

长柄含笑 chang bing han xiao 

Magnolia leveilleana (Dandy) Figlar; Michelia cavaleriei 

H. Léveillé (1911), not Finet & Gagnepain (1906); M. chongjiangensis 

Y. K. Li & X. M. Wang; M. longipetiolata C. Y. Wu 

ex Y. W. Law & Y. F. Wu. 

Trees, to 15 m tall, to 30 cm d.b.h. Young twigs appressed 

pubescent; buds ovoid, ca. 1 cm, densely red villous. Stipules 

free from petiole. Petiole 2.5–3 cm, appressed pubescent, without 

a stipular scar; leaf blade broadly to narrowly obovate, 7.5– 

10.5 × 2.8–3.8 cm, thinly leathery, both surfaces pubescent 

when young, midvein flat to adaxially slightly prominent, 

secondary veins 6–10 on each side of midvein and adaxially 

prominent, reticulate veins inconspicuous, base cuneate to 

broadly cuneate, apex acute. Flowers not seen. Stamen scar 

band in fruit ca. 8 mm. Fruiting brachyblasts ca. 3 mm. Fruiting 

gynophore 1–1.5 cm. Fruit 7–9 cm; undeveloped carpels ca. 20; 

mature carpels 7–12, blackish brown, ovoid, ca. 1.2 × 0.9 cm, 

lenticellate and villous, completely 2-valved. Fr. Sep–Oct. 

● Forests; 1000–1500 m. Guizhou, Hubei, Hunan, Yunnan. 

37. Michelia gioi (A. Chevalier) Sima & Hong Yu, Seed Pl. 

Honghe Reg. S. E. Yunnan China, 55. 2003 [“gioii”]. 

香子含笑 xiang zi han xiao 

Talauma gioi A. Chevalier, Bull. Écon. Indochine, n.s., 21: 

790. 1918; Magnolia hypolampra (Dandy) Figlar; Michelia 

hedyosperma Y. W. Law; M. hypolampra Dandy. 

89

90 

Trees, to 21 m tall, to 60 cm d.b.h. Buds, young petioles, 

brachyblasts, flower buds, and carpels appressed short sericeous 

but other parts glabrous. Twigs black turning pale brown when 

old, sparsely scattered with lenticels. Leaf blade obovate to 

elliptic-obovate, 6–13 × 5–5.5 cm, thinly leathery, with Illicium 

odor when crushed, both surfaces freshly green, glossy, and glabrous, 

secondary veins 8–10 on each side of midvein and 

prominent on both surfaces, reticulate veins slender, dense, and 

prominent on both surfaces, base broadly cuneate, apex with an 

obtuse tip. Flower buds long ellipsoid, ca. 2 cm. Brachyblasts 

ca. 1 cm. Flowers fragrant. Tepals 9, in 3 whorls; outer tepals 

membranous, linear, ca. 15 × 2 mm; tepals of inner 2 whorls 

38. Michelia ×alba Candolle, Syst. Nat. 1: 449. 1817. 

白兰 bai lan 

Magnolia ×alba (Candolle) Figlar; Michelia ×longifolia 

Blume; M. ×longifolia var. racemosa Blume; Sampacca ×longifolia 

(Blume) Kuntze. 

Trees, to 17 m tall, to 30 cm d.b.h. Bark gray. Branches 

and leaves fragrant after being crushed. Twigs patent, forming a 

broadly umbelliform crown; young twigs and buds densely pale 

yellowish white puberulous, trichomes gradually deciduous 

with age. Stipular scar nearly reaching middle of petiole. Petiole 

1.5–2 cm, sparsely puberulous; leaf blade long elliptic to narrowly 

ovate, 10–27 × 4–9.5 cm, thinly leathery, abaxially 

sparsely puberulous, adaxially glabrous, reticulate veins very 

conspicuous on both surfaces when dry, base cuneate, apex long 

acuminate to caudate-acuminate. Flowers very fragrant. Tepals 

10, white, lanceolate, 3–4 cm × 3–5 mm. Staminal connective 

exserted and forming a long tip. Gynophore ca. 4 mm; gynoecium 

puberulous; carpels numerous, usually partly undeveloped, 

forming a sparsely follicular fruit as torus elongates 

when mature. Fl. Apr–Sep. Usually not fruiting. 2n = 38. 

Cultivated. Fujian, Guangdong, Guangxi, Hainan, Taiwan, Yunnan 

[native to Indonesia (Java)]. 

This hybrid is grown as an ornamental and used medicinally. The 

plant is usually not fruiting and is propagated by grafting. 

MAGNOLIACEAE 

Hybrids or putative hybrids 

narrowly elliptic, 1.5–2 × ca. 0.6 cm. Stamens ca. 25, 8–9 mm; 

connective exserted and forming a 1–1.5 mm sharp tip. Gynophore 

4–5 mm and 2–3 cm in fruit; gynoecium ovoid; carpels 

ca. 10, narrowly ellipsoid, 6–7 mm, 5-ridged abaxially; ovules 

6–8 per carpel; styles ca. 2 mm, reflexed. Fruiting brachyblasts 

thick, 1.5–2 cm. Mature carpels grayish black, ellipsoid, 2–4.5 

× 1–2.5 cm, densely lenticellate, base shrunken into 2–8 mm 

stalks, apex mucronate, valves thick, reflexed when matured, 

exposing white endocarp. Seeds 1–4. Fl. Mar–Apr, fr. Sep–Oct. 

Forests, slopes, ravines; 300–800 m. SW Guangxi, Hainan, S Yunnan 

[Vietnam]. 

39. Michelia elegans Y. W. Law & Y. F. Wu, Bull. Bot. Res., 

Harbin 8(3): 71. 1988. 

雅致含笑 ya zhi han xiao 

Trees, to 5 m tall, with appressed indument. Old twigs 

dark brown, glabrous, scattered with lenticels; young twigs 

grayish brown, densely pubescent; buds ovoid, 1.5–2 × 0.7–1.2 

cm, brown tomentose. Stipules free from petiole. Petiole 0.5–1 

cm, pubescent, without a stipular scar, base slightly flattened; 

leaf blade obovate-oblong to rarely oblong, 9–18 × 4.5–5.5 cm, 

leathery, abaxially densely brown pubescent, adaxially glabrous, 

midvein abaxially prominent, secondary veins 11–13 on 

each side of midvein, reticulate veins dense and prominent 

when dry, base broadly cuneate to suborbicular, apex cuspidate. 

Brachyblasts ca. 1 cm, brown tomentose. Tepals 9, white, obovate 

to obovate-oblong, ca. 3 × 1.5–2 cm. Stamens many, ca. 

1.5 cm; connective exserted and forming a ca. 1.5 mm mucro; 

anthers ca. 1 cm. Gynophore ca. 8 mm, densely pubescent; 

gynoecium cylindric, 1.2–1.8 cm, densely pubescent; carpels 

ovoid, ca. 2.5 mm, densely pubescent. Fruiting gynophore 1.3– 

1.5 cm. Fruit cylindric, 6–7 cm; mature carpels broadly obovoid 

to subglobose, 1.1–1.2 × ca. 1 cm, slightly white lenticellate. 

Seeds 1 per carpel. Fl. Apr, fr. Oct. 

● Open fields. Zhejiang (Qingyuan). 

This plant may be a hybrid with Michelia cavaleriei as one of 

the parents. It is cultivated at the South China Botanical Garden, from 

where the holotype was collected. 

13. LIRIODENDRON Linnaeus, Sp. Pl. 1: 535. 1753. 

鹅掌楸属 e zhang qiu shu 

Trees, deciduous. Bark grayish white, longitudinally fissured, falling off in small masses. Winter buds ovoid, surrounded by 2 

connate stipules. Stipules free from petiole. Leaves spirally arranged, folded and pendulous in buds; petiole long; leaf blade with 1 or 

2 lateral lobes near base, apex truncate to emarginate. Flowers terminal, solitary, bisexual, not fragrant, appearing at same time as 

leaves. Tepals 9, in 3 whorls, subequal. Anthers dehiscing extrorsely. Gynoecium sessile; carpels many, spirally arranged, distinct, 

basal ones sterile; ovules 2 per carpel, pendulous. Fruit fusiform; mature carpels woody, falling off from torus when matured; testa 

fused with endocarp, apex elongated winglike; torus persistent. Seeds 1 or 2 per carpel; testa thin and dry. 

Two species: E Asia and E North America; one species in China. 

The North American species Liriodendron tulipifera Linnaeus is cultivated as a garden plant in E China.

1. Liriodendron chinense (Hemsley) Sargent, Trees & Shrubs 

1: 103. 1903. 

鹅掌楸 e zhang qiu 

Liriodendron tulipifera Linnaeus var. chinense Hemsley, J. 

Linn. Soc., Bot. 23: 25. 1886; L. tulipifera var. sinense Diels. 

Trees, to 40 m tall, to 1 m d.b.h. Twigs gray to grayish 

brown. Petiole 4–8(–16) cm; leaf blade 4–12(–18) × 3–9.5(–23) 

cm, membranous to papery, abaxially glaucous, base truncate to 

slightly cordate and with 1 lateral lobe near base of each side, 

apex 2-lobed. Flowers cupular. Tepals 9; outer 3 tepals green, 

sepal-like, curved and outwardly pendulous; tepals of inner 2 

MAGNOLIACEAE 

whorls green with yellow striations, erect, petal-like, obovate, 

3–4 cm. Filaments 5–6 mm; anthers 1–1.6 cm. Gynoecium exceeding 

tepals at anthesis; carpels yellowish green. Fruit 7–9 

cm; nutlets ca. 6 mm, winged, apex obtuse to mucronate, 1- or 

2-seeded. Fl. May, fr. Sep–Oct. 2n = 38. 

Forests; 900–1000 m. Anhui, Chongqing, Fujian, Guangxi, Guizhou, 

Hubei, Hunan, Jiangxi, Shaanxi, SE Sichuan, Yunnan, Zhejiang 

[N Vietnam]. 

This species is used for timber and grown as an ornamental. It is a 

rare and endangered species composed of small populations or scattered 

individuals. 

91

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