Magnolia

a genus of trees and shrubs characterized by thick, often evergreen, leaves and showy terminal flowers. Named for Pierre Magnol (1638-1715), a French botanist. There are fifteen species in all, confined to eastern North American and subtropical Asia. Some are only shrubs. Magnolia wood is white and is considered desirable for cabinet work. The Japanese use the wood of a native variety for lacquered work. The common American magnolia is a stately tree with broad evergreen leaves from one to three feet long. It bears fragrant white flowers, four to twelve inches in diameter, in full bloom from early May until the end of June.