26 Şubat 2013 Salı

Mississippi State Flower

Mississippi State Flower

Magnolia (common name)
Magnolia grandiflora 
(scientific name)

Overview

The process of choosing the Mississippi state flower began in 1900, but the state legislature didn’t make it official until 1952. ThoughMagnolia grandiflora trees occur throughout the American southeast, they’re most common in Louisiana, Misssissippi, and the wet areas of eastern Texas. They usually grow in mixed, damp forest with similarly adapted hardwood trees. Magnolia trees are particularly valued for their deep green, shiny evergreen foliage and large, white fragrant flowers.
The trees bloom in late spring, and may have occasional flowering periods throughout the summer. After flowering, the trees produce pinkish cone-like fruit. These release shiny red kidney-shaped seeds 0.25 to 0.5 inches (6 to 13 mm) long in the fall. Each seed has a fine thread connecting it to the fruit, so the seeds hang from the trees for a few days before falling or being carried away by birds or animals. 
Seeds are normally too heavy to be carried by the wind, though sometimes they are washed to a new location by heavy rains. Normally, magnolia trees spread and grow from seed, even though seeds rarely take root under parent plants. Mature trees also send up sprouts, and sometimes low branches that touch the ground can take root and grow into separate trees. The tree’s bark is gray-brown and mostly smooth.

Close-up

STATUS
Official
PHYSICAL DETAILS
Duration: Perennial
Plant: Medium to large evergreen tree
Mature Height: 90 ft (27.5 m)
Flowering: May–June
Flowers: maximum 11.8 in (30 cm) wide, 6–12 petals, waxy
Flower Color: White
Leaves: 5–8 in (12-20 cm) long and 2–5 in (6–12 cm) wide, smooth, dark green
Fruit/Seed Color: Pink/red
HABITAT
Location: Moist areas, especially the edges of swamps and streams intermixed with water oak, black tupelo, and sweetgum.
Range: Southeastern U.S., Maryland south through Virginia and Tennessee to Florida, west to Texas.
ALSO KNOWN AS
Southern magnolia, bull bay
TRIVIA
  • Squirrels, opossums, quail, and turkeys all eat and spread magnolia seeds.
  • The Magnolia grandiflora is Mississippi’s state tree as well as its state flower.

Click to enlarge an image
State Flower
Magnolia
State Flower
Magnolia Flowers
State Flower
Close-up of Magnolia Flower
State Flower
Magnolia Seeds

CLASSIFICATION
Kingdom:Plantae
Subkingdom:Tracheobionta
Superdivision:Spermatophyta
Division:Magnoliophyta
Class:Magnoliopsida
Subclass:Magnoliidae
Order:Magnoliales
Family:Magnoliaceae
Genus:Magnolia
Species:M. grandiflora
Author: World Trade Press

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