Lily-flowered magnolia

Lily Flowered Magnolia

Lily-flowered Magnolia
A genus consisting of about 125 species of deciduous and evergreen trees and shrubs, distributed through eastern N America to Venezuela, and from the Himalayas to E and SE Asia. Magnolias are among the most exotic of the flowering trees and shrubs sufficiently hardy for gardens in most temperate regions. Their solitary, fragrant blooms resemble water lilies. Several species are used medicinally in N America, originally by native tribes. The active constituents of magnolia bark dissolve readily in alcohol, which gave rise to the use by N American settlers of bitter, alcoholic extracts to prevent malaria. The non-astringent bark of M. acuminata (cucumber tree) and M. tripetala (Umbrella tree), as well as of M. virginiana, were listed in the U.S. Pharmacopoeia (1820-94), mainly for intermittent fevers and rheumatism. Magnolia liliiflora and M. officinalis have been important in Chinese traditional medicine for over 2000 years. Magnolia officinalis contains magnocurarine, which is similar to curare (a muscle relaxant obtained from various species of Chondrodendron, See, pareira, and Strychnos, See, strychnine).

Spreading, deciduous shrub with elliptic to obovate leaves, to 20cm (8in) long. Fragrant, white, purple-flushed flowers, to 7cm (3in) across, appear from spring to midsummer.

Common Name:

Lily-flowered Magnolia

Botanical Name:

Magnolia liliiflora syn. M. quinquepeta

Genus:

Magnolia

Family:

Magnoliaceae

Native Location:

Native to China

Cultivation:

Moist, neutral to acid, rich soil in sun or partial shade, with shelter from cold winds and late frosts. Magnolia virginiana tolerates wet soils. Buds and open flowers turn brown when damaged by frost.

Propagation:

By seed sown in autumn (species only); by greenwood cuttings in late summer (deciduous magnolias); by semi-ripe cuttings from late summer to early autumn (evergreen magnolias).

Harvest:

Bark is collected in autumn and dried for use in decoction, liquid extracts, powders, and tinctures. Its aromatic properties do not keep well and stocks are renewed annually. Flower buds and flowers are picked in spring (M. liliiflora) or when open in summer (M. officinalis), an d used fresh or dried in decoctions, or dried for powders.

Variations:

Nigra
Is compact and flowers when young, bearing numerous, deep purple flowers intermittently from spring to autumn.
Width: 2.5m (8ft)

Height:

3m (10ft)

Width:

4m (12ft)

Hardiness:

Z6-9

Parts Used:

Flowers, flower buds (xin yi)

Properties:

A pungent, warming, sedative herb that constricts blood vessels in the nasal passages. It also lowers blood pressure, relieves pain, and has anti-fungal effects.

Medicinal Uses:

Internally for sinusitis, allergic rhinitis, colds with mucus or runny nose. Excess causes dizziness. Incompatible with Astralagus membranaceus (See, Milk Vetch)

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