Cucumber Tree

1. Cucumber Tree Magnolia acuminate L.

2. Classification • Kingdom: Plantae • Subkingdom: Tracheobionta • Superdivision: Spermatophyta • Division: Mognoliaphyta • Class: Magnoliopsida • Subclass: Magnoliidae • Order: Magnoliales • Family: Magnoliaceae • Genus: Magnolia L. • Species: Magnolia acuminata

3. Shape, Form, Type • Cucumber Trees can reach 80 feet heights and usually have a straight trunk and a rounded crown. When they are young they are generally pyramidal. Figure 1

4. Bark • Bark on Cucumber trees is generally soft and light brown-gray. When it flakes off, it becomes a much darker reddish brown. Figure 2

5. Twig • The twigs of Cucumber trees are fairly short and thick, are red-brown, and have a spicy but sweet smell when broken. Figure 3

6. Leaf • Leaves alternate on Cucumber trees and are simple. They are between six and ten inches long and pinnately veined. The tops are dark green, while the under sides are much paler. They have an acuminate tip and entire margin. Figure 4

7. Bud • The buds are large and white with a silky texture. They are also terminal. Figure 5

8. Flower • Flowers are found high in the tree and are about two and a half to three inches long. They appear in late spring and early summer and are green and sometimes yellow-green. They are monoecious. Figure 6

9. Fruit • The fruit of cucumber trees is cylindrical, two to three inches long, and change from an initial green to red and later brown. It is composed of follicles that are about a half inch long and red when mature. Figure 7

10. Habitat and Range • Cucumber Trees are most commonly found in the eastern parts of the United States and Canada. They usually grow at high elevations with moist soil. Figure 8

11. Uses • Cucumber trees provide great shaded areas in parks and gardens. When cultivated, they grow to between fifty and seventy feet. Figure 9

12. References • Figure References • Figures 1- 7: Magnolia acuminata Fact Sheet. (2010). Retrieved February 22, 2010 from Department of Forest Resources and Environmental Conservation, Virginia Tech: http://www.cnr.vt.edu/​dendro/​dendrology/​syllabus/​factsheet.cfm?id=55. • Figures 8, 9: Magnolia acuminate L. Cucumber Tree. (2010). Retrieved June 22, 2010 from United States Department of Agriculture, Plants Profile: http://plants.usda.gov/​java/​profile?symbol=maac. • Information References: • Magnolia acuminata Fact Sheet. (2010). Retrieved February 22, 2010 from Department of Forest Resources and Environmental Conservation, Virginia Tech: http://www.cnr.vt.edu/​dendro/​dendrology/​syllabus/​factsheet.cfm?id=55. • Magnolia acuminate L. Cucumber Tree. (2010). Retrieved June 23, 2010 from United States Department of Agriculture, Plants Profile: http://plants.usda.gov/​java/​profile?symbol=maac. • Sternberg, G., Wilson, J., & White , D. (2010). Magnolia acuminate . Retrieved June 22, 2010 from Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/​wiki/​magnolia_acuminata.