Magnolia macrophylla

Distribution Map: Based on vouchered plant specimens only. View county names by placing the mouse cursor over a particular county.

Family:	MAGNOLIACEAE
Species:	Magnolia macrophylla Michx.
Common Name:	Bigleaf Magnolia; Oowah Tree
Habitat:	**
Associated Ecological Communities:	**
Growth Habit:	Tree
Duration:	Perennial
Category:	Vascular
USDA Symbol:	MAMA2
Plant Notes:	Bigleaf Magnolia is a native deciduous tree in the Magnolia family (Magnoliaceae). It is found throughout the state, but concentrated primarily in the western half. It has the largest simple leaves and largest single flower of any native plant species north of Mexico. Bigleaf Magnolia is typically found in rich hardwood forests, most often on slopes and in ravines where it is protected from strong winds. The trees often have multiple trunks, and can reach a height of 60 feet. The leaves are clustered near the ends of the branches and are green above and silvery white below. The leaves can be upwards of a yard long! The trees are easy to spot when the wind moves the leaves and the underside flashes. Flowers are cup-shaped and fragrant. They are up to twelve inches wide with white petals that sometimes have a purple spot at the base. The spherical cone-like fruits are woody and about the size of a baseball. Each section of the fruit releases a single seed that remains attached to the fruit by a silken thread. The seed swing and bounce in the wind, and have a red outer coating that is rich in fats. Birds are attracted by movement and the color red. The outer seed coat provides them with an energy rich food source during fall migration. The inner seed coat is hard and passes through the bird’s digestive tract un-harmed. Bigleaf Magnolia is available from many native plant nurseries. It can also be grown from seed. The seed should be collected as soon as possible after they are released from the cones. The fleshy red outer seed coat should be removed. You can soak the seed in warm water and then use a knife or sandpaper to remove the seed coat. Seed should be planted immediately out doors and will germinate in the spring. Bigleaf Magnolia grows best in rich soils high in organic matter. It needs bright light, but protection from strong winds. Plants grow well at the edge of a wood line or beneath larger trees.--A. Diamond
Taxonomic Notes:	**
Status:	Native
References:	**
Specimen:	View specimen details in the Alabama Herbarium Consortium Specimen Database

** Not applicable or data not available.

Classification

Family	MAGNOLIACEAE - Magnolia family
Genus	Magnolia
Species	Magnolia macrophylla Michx. - Bigleaf Magnolia; Oowah Tree

Citation

Citation	Magnolia macrophylla Michaux, Fl. Bor.-Amer. 1: 327. 1803.
Basionym:	**
Type:	**

** Not applicable or data not available.

Synonyms

No synonyms exist for this species.

No synonyms exist for this species.

Specimens and Distribution

This species has been reported in the following counties by the herbaria listed. An overview of the individual specimens are provided in the table that follows. Click on the accession number to view details; click on column headers to sort; choose a county or herbaria to filter the specimen data.

Counties included on distribution map: Autauga, Baldwin, Bibb, Blount, Butler, Calhoun, Chilton, Choctaw, Cleburne, Colbert, Conecuh, Crenshaw, Cullman, Dale, Fayette, Franklin, Hale, Henry, Jefferson, Lamar, Lauderdale, Lawrence, Marengo, Marion, Mobile, Monroe, Randolph, Shelby, Sumter, Tallapoosa, Tuscaloosa, Walker, Washington, Wilcox, Winston

Herbaria represented by specimen data listed below: ALNHS, AUA, JSU, SAMF, TROY, UNA, UNAF, USAM, UWAL

Range of years during which specimens were collected: 1935 - 2005

Barcode / Accession No.	County	Coll. Date	Collector & Collection No.	Herbarium & Herbarium Name Used
USAM000008412	Mobile	11 Nov 1971	LeLong, Michel G. 6469	USAM Magnolia macrophylla Michaux
JSU131318	Chilton	1 Apr 1999	Brodeur, Kristin R. 1593	JSU Magnolia macrophylla Michaux
UNA00064183	Randolph	22 Aug 1987	Nixon, Christopher F. 3335	UNA Magnolia macrophylla Michx.
UNAF0001454	Colbert	31 Apr 1970	Hamby, Debby s.n.	UNAF Magnolia macrophylla Michaux
UWAL0032662	Marion	28 May 2016	England, J. Kevin 6463	UWAL Magnolia macrophylla Michaux
JSU131576	Tuscaloosa	19 Aug 1975	Whetstone, R. David 6808	JSU Magnolia macrophylla Michaux
JSU131571	Lawrence	18 Sep 1994	Spaulding, Daniel D. 6447	JSU Magnolia macrophylla Michaux
USAM000008413	Mobile	01 May 1969	LeLong, Michel G. 5084	USAM Magnolia macrophylla Michaux
JSU146190	Cleburne	14 Sep 1993	Hutchinson, Francine 2008	JSU Magnolia macrophylla Michaux
UNAF0001456	Franklin	12 Sep 1989	Pounders, Jeff 06145	UNAF Magnolia macrophylla Michaux
AUA000037485	Marion	20 Jun 2018	Thibault, Tim 1701	AUA Magnolia Macrophylla Michx.
TROY000021179	Winston	02 Jul 2008	England, J. Kevin 839	TROY Magnolia macrophylla Michaux
JSU131316	Calhoun	20 May 1986	Lawler, Carol L. 534	JSU Magnolia macrophylla Michaux
UNA00058151	Blount	16 May 1998	Keener, Brian R. 801	UNA Magnolia macrophylla Michx.
UWAL0032661	Marion	28 May 2016	England, J. Kevin 6463	UWAL Magnolia macrophylla Michaux
UNA00065377	Winston	17 Apr 2005	England, J. Kevin 336	UNA Magnolia macrophyllaáMichx.
AUA_ACC_46848	Monroe	2 May 1981	Floyd, Ed 79	AUA Magnolia Macrophylla Michx.
UWAL0052130	Sumter	03 Nov 2019	Keener, Brian R. 11692	UWAL Magnolia macrophylla Michx.
UNA00023795	Hale	05 Aug 1966	Williams, Norris H. 355	UNA Magnolia macrophylla Michx.
AUA_ACC_43621	Wilcox	3 Sep 1985	Diamond, Alvin R. 1785	AUA Magnolia Macrophylla Michx.
JSU131574	Randolph	22 Aug 1987	Nixon, Christopher F. 3335	JSU Magnolia macrophylla Michaux
TROY000021356	Blount	16 May 1998	Keener, Brian R. 801	TROY Magnolia macrophylla Michaux
UNAF0001455	Franklin	08 Jul 1990	Hyde, Paula 010515	UNAF Magnolia macrophylla Michaux
JSU131315	Calhoun	4 May 1995	Hruska, Susan E. 723	JSU Magnolia macrophylla Michaux
TROY000049207	Washington	27 Jul 2012	England, J. Kevin 3803	TROY Magnolia macrophylla Michaux
SAMF0000151	Tuscaloosa	16 Apr 1965	Deramus, Rebecca s.n.	SAMF Magnolia macrophylla Michaux
ALNHS00003848	Colbert	23 Jun 2016	Barger, T. Wayne SP#2282	ALNHS Magnolia macrophylla Michx.
AUA000038586	Walker	18 Apr 1954	Guin, James K.	AUA Magnolia Macrophylla Michx.
USAM000008409	Baldwin	05 May 1973	Crowther, Sara 11	USAM Magnolia macrophylla Michaux
UWAL0006696	Hale	15 Jul 2007	Keener, Brian R. 3769	UWAL Magnolia macrophylla Michx.
AUA_ACC_43538	Butler	16 Aug 1985	Diamond, Alvin R. 1465	AUA Magnolia Macrophylla Michx.
JSU131313	Calhoun	20 May 1986	Lawler, Carol L. 534	JSU Magnolia macrophylla Michaux
UNA00023793	Winston	03 Jul 1949	Segars, Charles B. 36	UNA Magnolia macrophylla Michx.
JSU131579	Winston	6 Aug 1993	Ballard, J. Mark 3123	JSU Magnolia macrophylla Michaux
AUA_ACC_36053	Butler	13 May 1973	Lynn, David 164	AUA Magnolia Macrophylla Michx.
JSU131312	Calhoun	12 May 1994	Spaulding, Daniel D. 5299	JSU Magnolia macrophylla Michaux
TROY000046559	Autauga	08 Jun 2017	Parker, Matthew R. 917	TROY Magnolia macrophylla Michaux
AUA_ACC_32836	Lawrence	29 May 1976	Sessler, Ann H. 83B	AUA Magnolia Macrophylla Michx.
UNA00023698	Shelby	09 May 1981	Horn, Charles N. 310	UNA Magnolia macrophylla Michx.
UNAF0001457	Lawrence	19 Jun 1992	Collier, Sadonna s.n.	UNAF Magnolia macrophylla Michaux
UWAL0006699	Winston	02 Jul 2008	England, J. Kevin 839	UWAL Magnolia macrophylla Michx.
JSU131319	Chilton	18 May 1984	Whetstone, R. David 14010	JSU Magnolia macrophylla Michaux
UWAL0043369	Baldwin	04 Aug 2000	Larsen, Harry S. 451	UWAL Magnolia macrophylla Michx.
TROY000021357	Randolph	22 Aug 1987	Nixon, Christopher F. 3335	TROY Magnolia macrophylla Michaux
UWAL0031636	Lawrence	13 May 2011	England, J. Kevin 2881	UWAL Magnolia macrophylla Michaux
UNAF0001453	Colbert	30 Apr 1970	Morris, Janice 02417	UNAF Magnolia macrophylla Michaux
AUA000030324	Franklin	23 Sep 2014	Carstens, Jeffrey D. 88	AUA Magnolia Macrophylla Michx.
TROY000006943	Wilcox	26 Apr 1995	Curry, Jamie 1	TROY Magnolia macrophylla Michaux
JSU131577	Walker	24 May 1998	Brodeur, Kristin R. 745	JSU Magnolia macrophylla Michaux
UNA00023796	Tuscaloosa	09 May 1935	Harper, Roland M. 3365	UNA Magnolia macrophylla Michx.
UWAL0006698	Marengo	08 Oct 2008	England, J. Kevin 1384	UWAL Magnolia macrophylla Michx.
UNA00073731	Washington	27 Jul 2012	England, J. Kevin 3803	UNA Magnolia macrophylla Michx.
AUA_ACC_35815	Bibb	16 Aug 1979	Beckett, Scott W. 256	AUA Magnolia Macrophylla Michx.
UWAL0014730	Washington	27 Jul 2012	England, J. Kevin 3803	UWAL Magnolia macrophylla Michaux
UNA00029559	Winston	28 May 1970	Kral, Robert 39300	UNA Magnolia macrophylla Michx.
UWAL0046953	Autauga	08 Jun 2017	Parker, Matthew R. 917	UWAL Magnolia macrophylla Michaux
UNA00023699	Shelby	09 May 1981	Horn, Charles N. 310	UNA Magnolia macrophylla Michx.
UNAF0001459	Marion	00 Mar 1986	Hamby, Debby 02416	UNAF Magnolia macrophylla Michaux
UWAL0036949	Fayette	18 May 2017	England, J. Kevin 7785	UWAL Magnolia macrophylla Michaux
JSU131561	Chilton	18 May 1984	Whetstone, R. David 14010	JSU Magnolia macrophylla Michaux
JSU131563	Choctaw	13 Sep 1997	Higginbotham, Jerri W. 338	JSU Magnolia macrophylla Michaux
TROY000046983	Bibb	29 Sep 2017	Odom, Haley 4	TROY Magnolia macrophylla Michaux
SAMF0000153	Jefferson	14 May 2007	Davenport, Lawrence J. 3712	SAMF Magnolia macrophylla Michaux
JSU131311	Bibb	16 Aug 1993	Ballard, J. Mark 3218	JSU Magnolia macrophylla Michaux
UNAF0001464	Winston	23 Sep 1991	Parrish, Dana s.n.	UNAF Magnolia macrophylla Michaux
AUA000043361	Cullman	16 Oct 1927	Knapke, Bede	AUA Magnolia Macrophylla Michx.
TROY000021430	Butler	12 May 2008	Diamond, Alvin R. 19235	TROY Magnolia macrophylla Michaux
JSU131310	Bibb	7 Jun 1999	Brodeur, Kristin R. 1990	JSU Magnolia macrophylla Michaux
UNA00068709	Lamar	13 Aug 2002	Keener, Brian R. 2402	UNA Magnolia macrophylla Michx.
UWAL0006697	Lamar	13 Aug 2002	Keener, Brian R. 2402	UWAL Magnolia macrophylla Michx.
UNA00073769	Washington	27 Jul 2012	England, J. Kevin 3803	UNA Magnolia macrophylla Michx.
AUA_ACC_44584	Autauga	27 Sep 1975	Dupree, W.G. 12	AUA Magnolia Macrophylla Michx.
UWAL0006021	Tuscaloosa	09 Apr 1983	Kral, Robert 69857	UWAL Magnolia macrophylla Michx.
AUA_ACC_32922	Lawrence	29 May 1976	Sessler, Ann H. 83A	AUA Magnolia Macrophylla Michx.
UNA00023697	Shelby	09 May 1981	Horn, Charles N. 310	UNA Magnolia macrophylla Michx.
UNAF0001465	Winston	02 Jul 1992	Blanton, Laura s.n.	UNAF Magnolia macrophylla Michaux
AUA_ACC_62964	Cleburne	15 Oct 1956	Adams, W.H.	AUA Magnolia Macrophylla Michx.
JSU131320	Chilton	18 May 1984	Whetstone, R. David 14010	JSU Magnolia macrophylla Michaux
UWAL0014005	Conecuh	15 Jun 2013	Diamond, Alvin R. 24255	UWAL Magnolia macrophylla Michaux
TROY000006941	Crenshaw	14 May 1991	Nichols, Grant 17	TROY Magnolia macrophylla Michaux
UWAL0031635	Lawrence	13 May 2011	England, J. Kevin 2881	UWAL Magnolia macrophylla Michaux
AUA_ACC_35346	Butler	12 Sep 1979	Crawford, Lloyd C.	AUA Magnolia Macrophylla Michx.
UNA00023676		24 Apr _	Mohr, Charles s.n.	UNA Magnolia macrophylla Michx.
UWAL0038079	Chilton	10 Sep 2017	Spaulding, Daniel D. 15003	UWAL Magnolia macrophylla Michx.
JSU131314	Calhoun	5 May 1996	Whetstone, R. David 17509	JSU Magnolia macrophylla Michaux
AUA_ACC_69689	Marion	8 Apr 2007	Howell, B.W. 13	AUA Magnolia Macrophylla Michx.
JSU131572	Lauderdale	20 Jul 1996	Whetstone, R. David 18226	JSU Magnolia macrophylla Michaux
USAM000008408	Baldwin	20 Oct 1978	LeLong, Michel G. 10589	USAM Magnolia macrophylla Michaux
AUA000040051	Cullman	1 Jun 1941	Morgan, M. 23	AUA Magnolia Macrophylla Michx.
UNA00023799	Marion	11 Jul 1969	Kral, Robert 35431	UNA Magnolia macrophylla Michx.
UNA00029554	Winston	28 May 1970	Kral, Robert 39300	UNA Magnolia macrophylla Michx.
AUA_ACC_43539	Conecuh	18 Aug 1985	Koelling, Alfred C. 1575	AUA Magnolia Macrophylla Michx.
JSU131573	Randolph	22 Aug 1987	Nixon, Christopher F. 3335	JSU Magnolia macrophylla Michaux
TROY000006942	Henry	27 May 1999	MacDonald, John R. 12885	TROY Magnolia macrophylla Michaux
UNAF0001462	Winston	01 Jul 1990	Lawrence, Terry 08067	UNAF Magnolia macrophylla Michaux
JSU131569	Cullman	17 Apr 1980	Whetstone, R. David 9551	JSU Magnolia macrophylla Michaux
SAMF0000147	Winston	04 May 1957	McCullough, Herbert A. s.n.	SAMF Magnolia macrophylla Michaux
TROY000006940	Crenshaw	25 Jun 2000	Diamond, Alvin R. 11731	TROY Magnolia macrophylla Michaux
UWAL0012844	Cullman	10 Sep 2011	England, J. Kevin 3151	UWAL Magnolia macrophylla Michaux
USAM000008411	Baldwin	05 May 1973	Crowther, Sara 11	USAM Magnolia macrophylla Michaux
UWAL0032625	Franklin	12 Jun 2016	England, J. Kevin 6567	UWAL Magnolia macrophylla Michaux
AUA_ACC_43537	Butler	16 Aug 1985	Diamond, Alvin R. 1470	AUA Magnolia Macrophylla Michx.
JSU131568	Cullman	4 Jul 1997	Spaulding, Daniel D. 9691	JSU Magnolia macrophylla Michaux
ALNHS00000692	Monroe	05 Oct 2011	Barger, T. Wayne RH-407	ALNHS Magnolia macrophylla Michx.
SAMF0000152	Cullman	08 May 1965	Myers, Martha Crystal s.n.	SAMF Magnolia macrophylla Michaux
JSU131567	Cleburne	15 Jul 1969	Ballard, Sarah s.n.	JSU Magnolia macrophylla Michaux
AUA_ACC_17418	Butler	25 Jul 1969	Miller, L.C. 148	AUA Magnolia Macrophylla Michx.
JSU131565	Cleburne	14 Apr 1997	Spaulding, Daniel D. 9666a	JSU Magnolia macrophylla Michaux
AUA_ACC_43977	Monroe	2 Sep 1986	Diamond, Alvin R. 2793	AUA Magnolia Macrophylla Michx.
JSU131575	Randolph	19 Aug 1986	Nixon, Christopher F. 2788	JSU Magnolia macrophylla Michaux
TROY000026734	Marengo	08 Oct 2008	England, J. Kevin 1384	TROY Magnolia macrophylla Michaux
UNAF0001461	Winston	17 Sep 1984	Henderson, Taffy 02415	UNAF Magnolia macrophylla Michaux
JSU131564	Cleburne	15 Oct 1996	Hruska, Susan E. 1498	JSU Magnolia macrophylla Michaux
TROY000043066	Colbert	26 Jun 2014	England, J. Kevin 4994	TROY Magnolia macrophylla Michaux
ALNHS00002909	Colbert	23 Jun 2014	Barger, T. Wayne FH-358	ALNHS Magnolia macrophylla Michx.
AUA000038585	Walker	18 Apr 1954	Guin, James K.	AUA Magnolia Macrophylla Michx.
UNA00050054	Henry	12 May 1998	MacDonald, John R. 11183	UNA Magnolia macrophylla Michx.
UNAF0001463	Winston	07 Jul 1990	Riechenberg, Chris 010516	UNAF Magnolia macrophylla Michaux
UWAL0017071	Washington	13 Jun 2014	Keener, Brian R. 8477	UWAL Magnolia macrophylla Michx.
TROY000044391	Washington	13 Jun 2014	Keener, Brian R. 8477	TROY Magnolia macrophylla Michaux
SAMF0000150	Jefferson	22 Aug 1985	Davenport, Lawrence J. 2402	SAMF Magnolia macrophylla Michaux
JSU131317	Calhoun	20 May 1986	Lawler, Carol L. 534	JSU Magnolia macrophylla Michaux
UNA00023794	Washington	16 Apr 1950	Segars, Charles B. 211	UNA Magnolia macrophylla Michx.
UWAL0036696	Hale	31 Mar 2017	England, J. Kevin 7334	UWAL Magnolia macrophylla Michaux
AUA_ACC_60894	Butler	13 May 1973	Lynn, David 164	AUA Magnolia Macrophylla Michx.
UNA00045960	Chilton	9 Jun 1984	Whetstone, R. David 14035	UNA Magnolia macrophylla Michx.
TROY000037351	Conecuh	15 Jun 2013	Diamond, Alvin R. 24255	TROY Magnolia macrophylla Michaux
AUA_ACC_12284	Conecuh	2 May 1965	Koelling, Alfred C. 2261	AUA Magnolia Macrophylla Michx.
JSU131562	Chilton	9 Jun 1984	Whetstone, R. David 14035	JSU Magnolia macrophylla Michaux
UNAF0001458	Marion	01 Jul 1990	Beasley, James 010514	UNAF Magnolia macrophylla Michaux
UNAF0001460	Marion	10 Sep 1989	Markham, Todd s.n.	UNAF Magnolia macrophylla Michaux
JSU131578	Winston	17 Aug 1974	Whetstone, R. David 3844	JSU Magnolia macrophylla Michaux
AUA_ACC_37377	Monroe	29 Apr 1981	Henderson, T. 17	AUA Magnolia Macrophylla Michx.
TROY000043034	Lamar	14 Jun 2014	England, J. Kevin 4958	TROY Magnolia macrophylla Michaux
UWAL0015417	Lamar	14 Jun 2014	England, J. Kevin 4958	UWAL Magnolia macrophylla Michaux
AUA_ACC_10763	Tallapoosa	5 May 1963	Coats, Euel	AUA Magnolia Macrophylla Michx.
UNA00054050	Blount	26 Jul 1997	Keener, Brian R. 309	UNA Magnolia macrophylla Michx.
UWAL0017146	Colbert	26 Jun 2014	England, J. Kevin 4994	UWAL Magnolia macrophylla Michaux
JSU131566	Cleburne	4 Oct 1972	Washington, Connie s.n.	JSU Magnolia macrophylla Michaux
TROY000034077	Dale	15 Jun 2011	Chesser, Jason s.n.	TROY Magnolia macrophylla Michaux
AUA_ACC_11621	Butler	25 Apr 1965	Hillestad, H.O.	AUA Magnolia Macrophylla Michx.
JSU131570	Jefferson	22 Aug 1985	Barber, J. Patrick 1698	JSU Magnolia macrophylla Michaux
AUA_ACC_12798	Tallapoosa	7 May 1966	Woodruff, John R.	AUA Magnolia Macrophylla Michx.
UNA00023797	Tuscaloosa	12 May 1962	Deramus, Rebecca 121	UNA Magnolia macrophylla Michx.

View a List of All Ecological Communities

For more information, contact: Brian R. Keener, Ph.D.

Data last modified: 11/9/2024

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Citation Information:

Keener, B.R., A.R. Diamond, T.W. Barger, L.J. Davenport, P.G. Davison, S.L. Ginzbarg, C.J. Hansen, D.D. Spaulding, J.K. Triplett, and M. Woods. 2024. Alabama Plant Atlas. [S.M. Landry and K.N. Campbell (original application development), Florida Center for Community Design and Research. University of South Florida]. University of West Alabama, Livingston, Alabama.

Data, text, and images licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NoDerivs 3.0 Unported License.

Magnolia macrophylla

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