sprengeri and M. biondii

by DOROTHY S. CALLA WAY

The original description of Having named M. biondii, Magnolia sprengeri was published in Pampanini continued to study the 1915 by R. Pampanini in the specimens of Silvestri and found Bul!ettino della R. Socicta Toscana another new magnolia, which he di Orticultura Volume XX of the named M. Sprcngeri. The original Third Series, pages 99-102. This description is that translated here. publication was in Italian. Dr. In this description of M. August Kehr recently requested a sprcngeri, Pampanini compares the translation from his former student to M. aulacosperma, a species Dr. Gerardo Perlasca of Corno, Italy. named by Rehder and Wilson in Dr. Perlasca provided the transla- 1913, based on specimens tion presented here and his work is collected by Wilson. Later botanist greatly appreciated, as are the found that Wilson's M. aulacosperma efForts of Dr. Kehr in bringing this specimens, which consisted of only historical piece of literature to us in , and Silvestri's M. biondii English. specimens, which consisted of only Since the publication of flowers, represented the same plant. Pampanini's article in 1915, some According to the Internationa! Code changes in nomenclature of these of Botanical Nomenclature, the species have taken place. A brief earliest name M. biondii must be introduction and discussion of these used to refer to that plant. Thus, M. changes will make the original aulacosperma is now a synonym for publication more clear to the reader. M. biondii. Pampanini also mentions Pampanini examined specimens M. yulan in the first paragraph of collected in China from 1904-1914 by his description of M. sprcngeri. This the Rev. P. C. Silvestri. In 1910, is a synonym for M. denudata. Pampanini named Magnolia biondil In the second part of his article, based on some of Silvestri's Pampanini refers to collections of P. specimens. These specimens of M. G. Giraldi from Central China and biondii contained only flowers (since discusses the possibility that these the species is precocious and collections represent a new species specimens were collected in the related to M. biondli. He does not, spring). Thus, Pampanini's original however, actually name a new description of M. biondli lacks species. Today, Giraldi's collections information on the characteristics of are considered to be specimens of the leaves. M. biondii.

ISSUE 51 Translation of original descrip- tip. These are slight differences, but tion of M. sprengeri: just enough to prevent me from In the herbarium specimens of assimilating the two , as well the botanical collection of the Rev. P. as making allowances for other C. Silvestri made in Hupeh (Central differences which may yet be found China) from 1904 to 1914 there was in the leaves and flowers. named a new magnoha, the For M. sprcngeri I have very Magnolia biondii, a beautiful plant few herbarium specimens which are from which specimen it is possible to in a bad state of preservation with determine numerous, small, early the flowers completely blackened. flowers that precede the leaves. The branches are robust and Following the study of these glabrous, with internodes only 8-15 herbarium specimens I have now mm long and a diameter of 4 mm identified another magnolia that is with the leaf buds glabrous or believed to be new and I have given slightly pubescent toward the tip, it the name of M. sprengeri. with flower buds slightly hairy as The M. Sprengeri, like M. soon as fully grown, leaves are biondii, belongs to the group of deciduous, the flower precedes the with flowers that precede leaves with a very short stem; the the leaves, of which the best known bracts are 3 in number and not is the one commonly called M yulan, exactly alike, and the external and is more related to the affinity of dimensions are 4 x 2 cm and the M. salici folia Maxim. of Japan, and inner big one one is 5 x 3 cm, all to the M. aulacosperma Rehd. Et silky-hairy for the long section Wilson from Hupeh province. M. , and the petals are 8 or 9 in salicifolia differs from M. Sprengeri number, oblong spatulate, round by having thin branches, and flowers toward the tips, about 6 cm long. with only six tepals and with sepsis The outer ones are a little bigger narrow lanceolate and glabrous. The than the others and about 2 cm M. aulacosperma is not well known wide; the have a very short and the flowers have not yet been filament (3.5 cm) as compared to the described, and it is not possible for anther (11 cm) ending with an me to describe completely M. extended connective tissue (2/3 mm). sprengeri because I lack, as also for The spike of the ovaries during M. biondii, specimens with leaves. anthesis is very short (1.5-2 cm). It However, M. Sprengeri cannot be was collected by P. C. Silvestri in identical to M. aulacosperma Northern Hupeh on the U-Tan-Scian because according to the description Mountain in March 1912 and on the of Rehder and Wilson, not only are Zan-Lan-Scion Mountain in April the branches weak, but particularly 1913.In these locations the plant is the leaf buds are silvery yellow and known, as P. C. Silvestri writes, shiny. In contrast with M. sprengeri with the name In-cioen-sciu or the branches are robust and the leaf In-tchoen-hoa. buds are glabrous, though some- In the botanical collections of times slightly pubescent toward the the Rev. P. G. Giraldi in Shensi

12 ISSUE Sl Province (Central China) I found (13-15 x 4-5 cm) and very thinning some specimens of another toward the base, glossy on the upper magnolia, which Diels, who studied side and glacous on the under side, that collection, considered new but the flowers subterminal. did not describe. My research Diels to the contrary thought confirms Diels' opinion and now I the plant of P. Giraldi had more publish the plant relating to aflinity to Micheliu lunuglnosa Wall. Magnolia aulacosperma Rehder and from India and Magnolia ste!inta Wilson. Unfortunately even these Maxim. from Japan; but the first has specimens are incomplete, lacking axillary flowers, and even old leaves flowers, and fruits create doubts that have hairs on the underside, while perhaps the plant belong to the the second has much smaller leaves. genus Michelin, with such a high These specimens of M. level of affinity to the genus aulucospermu can be characterized Magnolia that is was confused with in the following way: rather thin it. Actually in the plant of P. Giraldi twigs with internodes 3-5 cm long the leaves, because of their papery and about 3 mm in diameter, consistency and the reticulum of the densely silky hairy when young, leaf venation observed on both blades, buds and even more so the flower would resemble more closely species buds, which are terminal, retaining of Michelin rather than Magnolia, their white silky character; young while the terminal buds are more persistent leaves more or less silky like the latter. hairy on the underside and totally In the first case it is less distant glabrous when old, leather under dry from Magnolia salicifoliu Maxim. condition, elliptical-lanceolate, from Japan, but the latter plant is acuminate, wedge shaped toward the completely glabrous except the base, 14-19 cm long and 4-7 cm wide underside of the leaves, scattered with stems 7-12 mm long, with with few hairs and it has much about 20 lateral veins, the middle larger and longer leaves, according one protruded only on the underside, to the description of Dunn, 20-65 cm, the the reticulum of the other, narrow at the base and with more prominent on both sides under dry numerous lateral veins (20-40); in conditions. addition it has glabrous flower buds P. G. Giraldi collected it in and petioles that are 10-12.5 cm Northern Shensi at In-Gia-Pon on long. October 20, 1892, on the Tui-Kia-Son In the second case, due to the mountain in 1893, in the vicinity of appearance of the venation of the In-Kia-Po in the summer of 1896, on leaves, the position of the flower the Si-ku-tzui-san mountain on July buds and their very short , it 10, 1900. M. uulacosperma has been is closer to Michclia wilsonii Finet recently described in 1913 by Rehder et Gagnep. , but in the latter the and Wilson from the specimens leaves are leathery and always collected by Wilson in West Hupeh completely glabrous, more narrow in September and June 1907. ยป

13 ISSUE 51 Magnolia Rabsa is Eoreik Arbororssa Poised

14 ISSUE 51 Magadi ~ X coulssgisss 'Lcssci' is Kdrsik Arborctssa Poissd

15 ISSUE 51