The sub-species of Magnolia officinalis, Magnolia biondii, can be used in medicine, including the bark, root bark, flowers, seeds, and buds. The bark is the most commonly used part and has similar effects to Magnolia officinalis, including dampness-dispelling, qi-moving, phlegm-dissolving, and pain-relieving properties. The seeds have a beneficial effect on eyesight and qi, while the buds are used in gynecology. The wood of Magnolia biondii can be used for boards, furniture, carvings, fine woodworking, musical instruments, and pencil shafts.
1. Morphological characteristics
(1) Magnoliaceae plant
A perennial deciduous tree, 8-18 meters tall with a diameter of 0.15-0.6 meters.
(2) Stem
The bark is gray-white or light purple-brown, with raised circular pores. The bark is slightly thinner than Magnolia officinalis and has an oily and spicy taste.
(3) Branches
The branches are round and stout, spreading outwards. The thicker branches have elliptical or annular leaf scars. The internodes are short, often clustered at the tips of the branches. The old branches are mostly gray, while the new branches are light green and have white hairs.
(4) Leaves
The leaves are alternate, leathery, and often grow in sheaths. They are narrowly obovate in shape, with entire margins, 15-35 cm long and 8-20 cm wide. The apex has a concave depression or a heart-shaped appearance. The depth of the concave fissure can be 1.5-3.5 cm, hence the name "concave leaf magnolia". However, the young seedlings or trees do not have a concave fissure at the leaf apex and have obtuse margins or slightly pointed tips. It is difficult to distinguish between Magnolia biondii and Magnolia officinalis during the seedling and young tree stages, so attention should be paid. The leaf base is wedge-shaped and has a petiole that is 2.5-5.5 cm long, with white hairs. There are 15-25 pairs of lateral veins on the leaf surface, which is smooth, while the back is grayish-green and white, with hairs when young.
(5) Flowers
The flowering period is from mid-March to late April. The bisexual flowers open at the same time as the leaves on the branches, with a diameter of 13-18 cm. There are 9-13 tepals, which are short round, lanceolate, or long lanceolate, resembling a spoon, varying in size. They have a light green-white color with a few purple spots. There are multiple stamens with linear anthers, and the filaments are short, with a red base and a milky yellow upper part. There are multiple carpels with slender and slightly curved styles, and the stamen group and carpel group are spirally arranged on the receptacle. The flowering period lasts about 20 days, and each flower can remain open for 3-4 days.
(6) Fruits
The fruit is an aggregate follicle, woody, cylindrical-oblong in shape, 10-17 cm long, with a short pointed tip. Each chamber contains 1-2 seeds, which are oblong and have a waxy gloss on the red seed coat, becoming reddish-brown after drying. The skin is thick and hard. The fruits ripen in late October to early November.
2. Biological characteristics
1. Magnolia biondii
The growth environment and habits of Magnolia biondii are similar to those of Magnolia officinalis, with slight differences. It is suitable for cultivation in mountainous areas below 650 meters above sea level. It prefers a warm and humid climate, with half shade and half sun during the seedling stage and warm weather. Adult trees prefer sunlight. It prefers fertile acidic sandy loam soil or neutral humus soil with less clay. Alkaline, waterlogged, and poorly drained soils are not suitable for planting.
2. Differences from Magnolia officinalis
Both Magnolia biondii and Magnolia officinalis are perennial deciduous tall trees, unique to mountainous areas, and prefer to coexist with Chinese fir and Chinese lacquer tree. They prefer a climate with abundant sunlight, coolness, and frequent rain and fog. They can tolerate cold temperatures but are afraid of severe cold. The lowest temperature in winter should not be below -8°C. They prefer warm weather but are afraid of extreme heat. The growth is slower when the temperature exceeds 36°C in summer. They like rain and fog but are afraid of continuous cloudy and rainy weather and heavy rain. They prefer moisture but are afraid of waterlogged and rotting roots. They like sunlight but cannot withstand prolonged exposure to direct sunlight.
There is not a strict requirement for altitude. It can grow at altitudes of around 300 meters above sea level to 2500-3000 meters. However, the most suitable planting altitude is between 800 and 2200 meters above sea level.
Magnolia officinalis is widely distributed in China, mainly in the Yangtze River basin, such as Hubei (wild species are extinct, only cultivated ones remain), Sichuan, Zhejiang, Jiangxi, Jiangsu, Anhui, Fujian, Shaanxi, southern Gansu, Yunnan, Guizhou, Guangxi, and other provinces and regions. Magnolia biondii is also widely distributed, even more so than Magnolia officinalis. In general, wherever Magnolia officinalis can grow, Magnolia biondii can also grow, but the altitude is slightly lower than that of Magnolia officinalis.
