Magnolia Study

My group is looking at trees this month.  I have chosen the Southern Magnolia, iconic in this part of the country.  Often used in bridal bouquets, the white flowers are symbolic of beauty and purity.

Fossil records reveal that the tree existed at least 100 million years ago...long before the appearance of bees.  Thus the trees were pollinated by beetles and that is still the method today.  The Mordellidae beetle (or flower tumbling beetle), shown here 5 times actual size, is just one of several known to perform this activity.

These trees live about 100 years and can grow to enormous size as shown by the picture taken of my friend Pat at historic Brattonsville, SC.