Southern Magnolia

Recycle, all pics earlier years, but as of May 16, 2009 the blooms are coming on strong.

Southern Magnolia
Magnolia grandiflora

Kingdom: Plantae
Division: Magnoliophyta
Class: Magnoliopsida
Order: Magnoliales
Family: Magnoliaceae
Genus: Magnolia
Species: M. grandiflora

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Magnolia_grandiflora


Magnolia grandiflora rightly deserves its name. With a bloom as big as a cantaloupe, or even a football, this flower is grand indeed.


I have a suspicion that the Southern Magnolia (an evergreen) is not a true Arkansas wild tree-- though they may grow apart from human effort in the far south. I have no concrete evidence, I've simply never encountered one in the wild.



As a northern boy, I'd never seen a Magnolia till I moved, age 12 to Tulsa Oklahoma. Both it, and the Mimosa tree with its fibrous bloom, astonished me.



Turns out plenty of others are astonished too. I bet the Southern Magnolia and Calla Lilly fall just behind the rose as floral photo subjects, with Magnolia being a favored black and white subject. Beyond that, it makes a fine subject for the nose, with just a hint of pine.

For some fine art samples see:

http://www.bsk-photo-graphs.com/magnolia.htm
http://www.pbase.com/bw/image/656552
http://www.pbase.com/bonita/magnolia






Ozark Magnolia