Dicotyledons of Magnoliaceae

Magnoliaceae:

Systematic position:

Polypetalae ,Thalamiflorae, Ranales

Field Recognition:

Trees or shrubs, leaves simple, alternate, stipules leave a circular stipular scar, flowers large, actinomorphic, perinath parts 6-18,stamens many, apocarpous.

Selected Indian Genera:

Magnolia, Michelia,Talauma

Size and Distibution and General information:

It has 12 genera and 230 species, mainly distributed in the warm temperature regions of the Northern Hemisphere.The species are common in eastern Asia and North America.

Magnoliaceae family

Description of the family:

General Habit- Decidious or evergreen, aromatic shrubs or trees.

Root- Tap root , branched.

Stem- Aerial, woody, erect or climbing, branched, parenchyma contain oil glands.

Leaves- Alternate, large, simple, entire, petiolate, pinnately-veined, stipulate, stipules large, oil glands present.

Inflorescence- Solitary flowers, axilary or terminal, flowers crowded near he tips of branches in Illicium

Flowers- Large, showy,bracteate, pedicellate, bisexual rarely unisexual, actinomorphic, hypogynous, 

Perianth- Is undifferentiated into calyx and corolla. Spiral or cyclic,polyphyllous,lobs are arranged in whorls of threes, valvate or imbricate in each whorl.

Androecium- Stamens numerous, free, spirally arranged on the basal part of floral axis, anthers long, dithecous, basifixed, introse, dehiscence longitudinal, connective prolonged.

Gynoecium- Carpels numerous, apocarpous (free), spirally arranged on the floral axis above the stamens, superior, unilocular, one or more ovules on a ventral suture, placentation parietal, style short, one,stigma one.

Fruits and seeds- Fruit of aggregate type. It may be a follical, samara or rarely berry. Seed often suspended within the follical by a thread-like funiculus, has a minute embryo in a large endosperm.

Floral Formula:
 

Economic Importance: 

•           Important as common ornamentals and as a source of wood.

•           Magnolia species are commonly cultivated in gardens. M.grandiflora is known for their sweet, scented, beautiful flowers.

•          Wood of M.acuminata is used in making toys, tea-boxes and quality furniture.

•           M.champaca is a common garden ornamental plant, and is also the source of a volatile oil which is widely used in perfumery and cosmetics.

•          I.griffithii fruits are used as condiment for flavouring curries.

•          Schizandra grandiflora fruits are edible.