Image Source:  http://biodiversity.uno.edu/delta/angio/images/magno193.gif

• many separate, often spirally-arranged sepals, petals, stamens, and pistils
• floral formula:  - follicle
• the flower characteristics are considered primitive and have affinity with the Ranunculaceae.  These are woody whereas the buttercups are herbaceous.
• pollination is by beetles

• stipule scars encircle twig (this feature is important in identifying winter twigs of the Magnoliaceae)
• woody trees or shrubs

• economic importance as ornamentals (Magnolia)and for lumber (Liriodendron)
• Liriodendron was very important to the early settlers who used it for barn beams.  The size of the poplar trees on a farm often determined the size of the barn!  The logs are good for beams because they are long, straight, and of uniform diameter so they needed a minimum of trimming and shaping to get them ready for construction.
• a major component of North American forests before the glacial era

• Tulip Tree, Yellow Poplar (Liriodenderon tulipifera)  [Note: the true poplars are in the genus Populus,Family Salicaceae] 
• Cucumber Tree (Magnolia acuminata)
• Saucer Magnolia (Magnolia soulangiana)
• Southern Magnolia, Large-flowered Magnolia (Magnolia grandiflora)not hardy in north-central Ohio
• Star Magnolia (Magnolia stellata)native of Japan but widely cultivated in home landscaping; shrub in front of Fallerius Technical Education Center
• Sweet Bay, Laurel Magnolia (Magnolia virginiana) in front of Physical Activity Center
• The tree at Conard Learning Center is a hybrid: Magnolia liliflorax sprengeri  'Galaxy'

        Liriodendron:Flowers  http://www.albion.edu/plants/detail.asp?imagenumber=801
        Liriodendron:Flowers, leaves, twig, bark   http://www.forestry.auburn.edu/samuelson/ dendrology/magnoliaceae_pg/yellow_poplar_.htm
        Magnolia:Line drawings of flower and flower parts  http://www.eeob.iastate.edu/classes/botany306/families/Magnoliaceae/Magnoliaceae.html
          Magnolia grandiflora: Flower  http://www.albion.edu/plants/detail.asp?imagenumber=807
          Magnolia stellata: Closeup of flower http://www.unibas.ch/botimage/h/Magnolia_stellata.htm
        Magnolia:Photos of several species from Univ of Wisconsin http://botit.botany.wisc.edu/images/401/Magnoliophyta/Magnoliopsida/Magnoliidae/Magnoliaceae/Magnolia/
 
Links

Magnoliaceae
        Delta Taxonomy System  http://delta-intkey.com/angio/www/magnolia.htm
        Flora of North America  http://www.efloras.org/florataxon.aspx?flora_id=1&taxon_id=10530
        Univ of Hawaii  http://www.botany.hawaii.edu/faculty/carr/magnoli.htm
        Univ of Wisconsin  http://botit.botany.wisc.edu/courses/systematics/family_index/Family_Pages/ Magnoliaceae.html
        USDA (includes distribution maps) http://plants.usda.gov/cgi_bin/gallery_page.cgi?earl=gallery.cgi&category=genus&classes=all&sort= scisort&txtparm=Magnolia&wetland=all&origin=all&results=thumbnails&pagenum=1
        Wayne's Word, Palomar College  http://waynesword.palomar.edu/trmar98c.htm

Tulip Tree (Liriodendron tulipifera)
      TreeWebhttp://www.uky.edu/Projects/TreeWeb/species/magn1.htm#liri

Cucumber Magnolia (Magnolia acuminata)
        TreeWebhttp://www.uky.edu/Projects/TreeWeb/species/magn1.htm#macu

Saucer Magnolia (Magnolia soulangiana)
     Ohio State University  http://hcs.osu.edu/hort/plantlisting/M/Magnolia1986.html

Southern Magnolia (Magnolia grandiflora)
        Floridata text and photos  http://www.floridata.com/ref/m/magno_g.cfm

Star Magnolia (Magnolia stellata)
        Floridata text and photos  http://www.floridata.com/ref/m/magno_st.cfm
        Univ of Conn Plant Database text and photos  http://www.hort.uconn.edu/Plants/m/magste/magste1.html

Sweet Bay Magnolia (Magnolia virginiana)
        Discover Life  http://www.discoverlife.org/nh/tx/Plantae/Dicotyledoneae/Magnoliaceae/ Magnolia/virginiana/
        Ohio State University  http://www.hcs.ohio-state.edu/hcs/TMI/Plantlist/ma_niana.html