Magnolia grandiflora
Specifications
Family
Magnoliaceae
Species
Magnolia grandiflora L.
southern magnolia
bull-bay
Description
The sapwood is whitish and the heartwood is brown, more or less dark with yellow or greenish hues. The texture is medium and regular, the grain straight, and the density ranges from 0.45 to 0.60. Drying must be done very slowly. Mechanical resistance is good, but durability is modest.
Plant morphology
A large, wedge-shaped evergreen tree, it grows up to 25 meters tall. The bark is dark gray and splits into small laminae. The leaves are 20-30 cm long, lanceolate, elliptical, rigid, and leathery. The upper surface is glossy and dark green, while the lower surface is rust-colored and, in some varieties, slightly hairy. They persist for about two years. The flowers are large, creamy white, intensely scented, and short-lived. The fruit is an achene and grows in ovoid clusters 8-12 cm long. The seed is deep red and emerges when ripe.
Natural occurrence
Countries of origin and distribution
Southern United States: Florida, Alabama, Mississippi. Widespread in Europe as an ornamental tree.
Habitat and ecology
This species grows near basal streams in the southeastern United States; it prefers deep, nutrient-rich, cool, but well-drained soils (it cannot tolerate long periods of flooding). Climatically, it occurs in temperate and subtropical climates, where temperatures rarely drop below -8°C (18°F) and do not exceed 38°C (100°F). It occurs in mixed stands, along with various species of oak, pine, and beech.
Uses
Use class
CU1
CU2
CU3
CU4
CU5
Application areas
It is used in carpentry, furnishings, furniture, and fixtures.
Technical data
Aesthetic characteristics
Grain
Obvious
Texture
Fine
Physical and mechanical properties
Density
ρ
ρ
560
kg/m3
Radial shrinkage
Rad. sh.
Rad. sh.
54
MPa
Tangential shrinkage
Tang. sh.
Tang. sh.
66
MPa
Bending strength
M.O.R.
M.O.R.
77
MPa
Modulus of Elasticity
M.O.E.
M.O.E.
9660
MPa
Durability characteristics
Fungal resistance
Not durable
Insect resistance
Not resistant