Magnolia (Magnolia spp.) consists of about 80 species from Asia [50], West Indies [8], Central/South America [10] and North America [8]. Some species separations are possible based on microanatomy. The genus Magnolia is dedicated to Pierre Magnol (1638−1715), professor of botany and medicine and director of the botanic garden at Montpellier, France.

Magnolia acuminata* black lin, black linn, blue magnolia, cowcumber, cucumber, cucumber magnolia, cucumbertree, cucumberwood, elkwood, magnolia, mountain magnolia, pointed-leaved magnolia, yellow cucumbertree, yellow-flower magnolia, yellow lin, yellow linn, yellow poplar, wahoo, wauhoo

Magnolia ashei ashe magnolia, cucumbertree, sandhill magnolia

Magnolia fraseri cucumber, cucumbertree, earleaf cucumber, earleaf cucumbertree,

earleaf umbrella-tree, Fraser magnolia, Fraser umbrella, In­dian bitters, Indian physic, long-leaf cucumbertree, magnolia, mountain-cucumber, mountain magnolia, mountain-oread, North Carolina bay-tree, umbrella-tree, water-lilly-tree, whahoo

Magnolia grandiflora* bat-tree, bull-bay, big-laurel, black lin, cucumberwood, ever
green magnolia, great laurel, large-flower magnolia, laurel, laurel bay, laurel-leaved magnolia, magnolia, mountain magno­lia, southern magnolia, sweet magnolia

Magnolia macrophylla big-bloom, bigleaf magnolia, cowcumber, cucumber,

cucumbertree, elkbark, great-leaved magnolia, large-leaf cucum­bertree, large-leaf magnolia, longleaf cucumber, long-leaved magnolia, mountain magnolia, pyramid magnolia, royal-oread, silverleaf, silverleaf magnolia, southern cucumbertree, umbrella- tree, large-leaved umbrella-tree, white cucumbertree

Magnolia pyramidata mountain magnolia, mountain-oread, pyramid magnolia, southern cucumbertree, wood-oread

Magnolia tripetala cucumber, cucumbertree, elk-browse, elkwood, Japanese magnolia, magnolia, umbrella magnolia, umbrella-tree, wahoo

Magnolia virginiana* bat-tree, bay, bay-tree, beaver-tree, big laurel, black lin, bullbay, cucumberwood, Indian-bark, laurel magnolia, magnolia, moun­tain magnolia, small magnolia, southern sweetbay, swampbay, swamp-laurel, swamp magnolia, swamp sassafras, sweetbay, sweet magnolia, sweetbay magnolia, Virginia magnolia, white- bay, white-laurel

* commercial species

Distribution: North America.

The Tree: Magnolia trees can reach heights of 80 ft (24 m), with a diameter of 3 ft (1 m).

General Wood Characteristics: The sapwood of magnolia is creamy white, while the heartwood is light to dark brown, often with greenish to purple-black streaks or patches. The wood is even-textured and moderately heavy, fairly hard and straight grained. It resembles yellow poplar (Liriodendron spp.). Magnolia is moderately stiff, high in shock resistance, and low in shrinkage. It has no characteristic odor or taste.

 

 

aData for green and 12% conditions taken from reference (98); ovendry data from reference (59).

bData from reference (59).

 

aReference (98).
bReference (90).

 

4/4, 5/4, 6/4        8/4        10/4        12/4        16/4

Condition        stock        stock        stock        stock        stock

Standard        T10-D4        T8-D3        NA        NA        NA

aReferences (6, 86) for Magnolia grandiflora (southern magnolia) and Magnolia virginiana (sweetbay).

Working Properties: Magnolia has average nail-holding ability, is readily worked, and glues, paints, and finishes well.

Durability: Rated as slightly or nonresistant to heartwood decay. Preservation: No information available at this time.

Uses: Lumber, veneer, furniture (upholstery frames), boxes, interior trim, cabinetry, doors, slats for venetian blinds, plywood.

Toxicity: The bark and leaves can be irritating (64), while the wood has been reported to cause bronchial asthma and rhinitis (40).

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