Magnolia polyhypsophylla

Description

This species is a tree up to 25 meters tall and 80 cm in diameter. The bark is grey with darker grain. The leaves are alternately arranged with a light green petiole tinged with burgundy. The leaf blade is elliptical and leathery in texture, light bright green colored on the top, pale green on the underside, with a prominent median nerve on the bottom. The flowers are generally solitary at the end of the branches. They have three cream colored sepals, truncate at the base and apiculate at apex and six yellow-green petals. The fruits are elliptic in shape, measuring about 7 centimeters long by 3 wide. They open irregularly by detachment of the carpels. Each carpel has one or two aromatic red seeds.

Distribution and habitat

This is an endemic tree of Antioquia department, where it grows in humid forests in the pre-montane and low montane in a region known as Alto de Ventanas between the municipalities of Briceño, Valdívia and Yarumal. It is a canopy tree and can be found on grazing lands and on the edge of small forest fragments using for protection of water courses. It grows at elevations of 1800 to 2600 m.a.s.l.

Uses

This tree is harvested for timber and is used for furniture and wood beams. It is also grown as an ornamental plant.

Conservation

This species is listed as Critically Endangered (CR) in the Red Book of Plants of Colombia due to its presence is limited to only one locality smaller than 100 square kilometers. The local habitat is fragmented and degraded, in part by pasture and dairy farming use.

Fruit production and seed collection

Magnolia polyhypsophylla produces flower buds year round, but few flowers open or lead to fruit production. Fruit collection should be done during the months of August, September and November, when fruits are most abundant. The fruits take at least 5 months to mature.

Fruits are collected before or after they fall from the tree. Immature fruits may be left to ripen so that the seeds may be collected after dehiscence. The fruits are soaked and cleaned to retrieve the seeds. The seeds are sensitive to desiccation. They require no pre-germination treatment and can be sowed in a sand/soil mix.

References

References

1. Calderon, E.. (2014). "''Magnolia polyhypsophylla''".
2. Velásquez R., C. y Serna G., M. 2005. Magnoliáceas de Antioquia. Jardín Botánico Joaquín Antonio Uribe - CORANTIOQUIA - OIMT. Primera Edición. Medellín, Colombia. 32 p.
3. Losano C., G. 1983. Magnoliaceae. Flora de Colombia, Monografía No. 1. Instituto de Ciencias Naturales, Universidad Nacional de Colombia - COLCIENCIAS. Bogotá. 120p.
4. Trujillo, L.; Agudelo, G.; Restrepo, M.; Cardona, E.; Murillo, J..Avances en la estrategia para la conservación de las especies de las familia Magnoliaceae en Jurisdición de CORANTIOQUIA, Medellín: CORANTIOQUIA, 2011 100.p. (Boletín Técnico Biodiversidad; No. 6, Diciembre 2011)
5. Calderón S., E.; A. Cogollo P; C. Velásquez R.; M. Serna G. y N. García.2007. Las magnoliáceas. Pp. 45-154. En: García, N. (ed.). Libro Rojo de Plantas de Colombia. Volumen 5: Las magnoliáceas, las miristicáceas y las podocarpáceas. Serie Libros Rojos de Especies Amenazadas de Colombia. Bogotá, Colombia. Instituto Alexander von Humboldt - CORANTIOQUIA - Jardín Botánico Joaquín Antonio Uribe- Instituto de Ciencias Naturales de la Universidad Nacional de Colombia - Ministerio de Ambiente, Vivienda y Desarrollo Territorial. 236 p.