- Source: Magnolia fordiana
Magnolia fordiana is a widespread species of flowering plant in the family Magnoliaceae, native to southern China, Hainan, and Vietnam. An evergreen tree reaching 25 m (82 ft) tall, it is found in hilly forests, often beside rivers, at elevations from 300 to 1,200 m (1,000 to 3,900 ft). Specialists in Magnolia believe that most Magnolia fordiana specimens offered for sale are actually the closely related Magnolia yuyuanensis, a more attractive tree and one that is better adapted to cultivation. It is widely used as a street tree in southern Chinese cities.
Subtaxa
The following varieties are accepted:
Magnolia fordiana var. calcarea (X.H.Song) V.S.Kumar – Yunnan, Guizhou
Magnolia fordiana var. fordiana – southern China, Vietnam
Magnolia fordiana var. forrestii (W.W.Sm. ex Dandy) V.S.Kumar – Guangxi, Yunnan
Magnolia fordiana var. hainanensis (Dandy) Noot. – Hainan