Volume 5 — PLATE CCCXXIV.

MAGNOLIA PURPUREA.

Purple-flowered Magnolia.

CLASS XIII. ORDER VII. of Schreb. Gen. Plants.

POLYANDRIA POLYGYNIA. Many Chives. Many Pointals.

ESSENTIAL GENERIC CHARACTER.

Calyx 3-phyllus. Petala 6-12. Capsulæ 2-valves, imbricatæ. Semina baccata, pendula.

Cup 3-leaved. Petals 6-12. Capsules 2-valved, tiled. Seeds, berries, pendulous.

See Magnolia pumila, Pl. CCXXVI. Vol. IV.

SPECIFIC CHARACTER.

Magnolia foliis obovatis, flaccidis; floribus purpureis; petalis obovatis, divaricatis.

Magnolia with inversely egg-shaped, flaccid leaves; flowers purple; petals inversely egg-shaped and straddling.

REFERENCE TO THE PLATE.

This fine species of Magnolia is a native of China and Japan, was introduced to us by the late Mr. Slater of Laytonstone, to whom we are so much indebted for the greatest number of beautiful plants which have been imported from thence by any individual. It is a very free growing plant; will resist the severity of our winters, if planted in a warm situation, and is deciduous; but if kept in the conservatory, it retains its leaves the whole year, and flowers about June. It is propagated with ease by laying, or by cuttings, and thrives in peat earth, with a small mixture of loam. The plant from which our figure was taken is in the magnificent Conservatory of the Right Honourable the Marquis of Blandford, White Knights, near Reading, Berks; and, we believe, the finest specimen of this species of Magnolia in Britain.