Cucumber Tree Cucumber Magnolia

   Magnolia acuminata

      ( mag-NOWL-ee-ah ac-KEW-min-ah-tah)

      Magnolia is a Latin name derived from the name of Pierre Magnol, a French professor of botany who died in 1715.  The species name acuminata means ìwith a long pointî and refers to the shape of the large leaf of the species which curves abruptly inward at the outer edges to end in a prominent point.  There are only a few of these large trees on the Nature Center.  In order to survive in a stand of trees, they must grow taller than any of the surrounding trees.  When they are present as a canopy tree in an old growth forest they will indeed be magnificent specimens as many of these are.

       The genus Magnolia is included within the Family Magnoliaceae, (pronounced mag-NOWL-ee-a-cih-ee) derived from the name of Monsieur Magnol via the genus name.  Magnolias are members of one of the most ancient groups of flowering plants. In North America, the Cucumber Magnolia is the northernmost species of the Magnolia family.

      The tree can be identified by its bark. It is dark brown and furrowed into narrow, scaly forking ridges.  In summer the leaves of the tree are easily identified as well.  The smooth-edged elliptical or ovate leaves end in a sharp point and may be 10-inches long or even longer.

       In July and August perhaps the best signs of the presence of a Cucumber Tree are the unripened bright-red oblong cucumber-like seed pods which have fallen to the ground below.  Each 2‡-3î seed pod is composed of many fruits that will each split open when ripe to expose two dark red to orange seeds hanging down in threads.  These seeds provide a food source for many wildlife species. In the spring, the large, solitary, bell-shaped yellow flowers that produce the seeds are found at the end of twigs.

     The beautifully colored and grained wood of the Cucumber Tree is used as trim or paneling and the like.  Although classified as a ìhardwood,î the wood from this species is actually fairly soft and is not suitable for making furniture.

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