Magnaceae

Magnoliaceae, commonly known as the magnolia family, is a family of flowering plants in the order Magnoliales. The family consists of two living genera, Magnolia and Liriodendron, and about 210 species. Magnoliaceae members are woody plants ranging from shrubs to large trees, with a widespread distribution in temperate and tropical regions of Asia and the Americas.

Leaves are generally simple and alternately arranged, often large with prominent venation. Flowers are typically large and conspicuous, solitary or in small clusters, with numerous petaloid parts that are not clearly differentiated into petals and sepals. They are frequently fragrant and bloom early in the growing season, sometimes before leaf emergence. The fruit forms as an aggregate of follicles that ripen to release bright seeds.

The two living genera are Magnolia, the larger and more diverse group, and Liriodendron, which comprises two species: Liriodendron tulipifera (tulip tree) and Liriodendron chinense (Chinese tulip tree). Magnolia includes many species that are prized as ornamental trees and shrubs, such as Magnolia grandiflora and Magnolia stellata, and is widely cultivated in temperate and tropical landscapes.

The Magnoliaceae are among the earliest diverging lineages of flowering plants, and their flowers preserve primitive angiosperm traits. Wood from some species is used for timber, and the plants are important horticultural subjects in parks and gardens. Conservation concerns arise for some wild Magnolia species due to habitat loss and collection pressures.