Background

The Magnolia (Magnoliaceae) is the oldest plant in Angiosperm. Magnolia is usually a deciduous tree, with about 90 species distributed mainly in East Asia and North America. More than 30 species have been found in China, cultivated all over the country. Their trees are tall and flowers very beautiful. Some magnolias can live as long as over 1,000 years. It blooms in early spring, often before putting out new leaves. The single flowers are like cups, standing on top of twigs, usually with 6 - 9 petal-like perianths. The Magnolia denudata has elegant, jade-like, greenish-white flowers, which send forth a refreshing fragrance. The Magnolia liliflora is its close species. Magnolia is one of the well-known flowers traditionally cultivated in China, and inspired a lot of verses in praise of it in the ancient and modern times

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