
Description
Magnolia is a large genus of about 210 species named after botanist Pierre Magnol. This is one of the oldest species of trees having evolved before bees appeared, the flowers developed to encourage pollination by beetles. To avoid damage from pollinating beetles, the carpels of the flowers are extremely tough. Specimens of “Magnolia acuminata” fossils have been found dating to 20 million years ago, and of plants identifiably belonging to…