Magnolias are trees or shrubs with deciduous or rarely evergreen foliage. They bear conspicuous and often large, fragrant, white, rose or purple flowers. The sepals are three in number, the petals six to twelve, in two to four series of three in each, the stamens and carpels being numerous. The fruit consists of a number of follicles which are borne on a more or less conical receptacle, and dehisce along the outer edge to allow the scarlet or brown seeds to escape; the seeds however remain suspended by a long slender thread (the funicle). Of the old-world species, the earliest in cultivation appears to have been _M. Yulan_ (or _M. conspicua_) of China, of which the buds were preserved, as well as used medicinally and to season rice; together with the greenhouse species, _M. fuscata_, it was transported to Europe in 1789, and thence to North America, and is now cultivated in the Middle States. There are many fine forms of _M. conspicua_, the best being _Soulangeana_, white tinted with purple, _Lenné_ and _stricta_. Of the Japanese magnolias, _M. Kobus_ and the purple-flowered _M. obovata_ were met with by Kaempfer in 1690, and were introduced into England in 1709 and 1804 respectively. _M. pumila_, the dwarf magnolia, from the mountains of Amboyna, is nearly evergreen, and bears deliciously scented flowers; it was introduced in 1786. The Indian species are three in number, _M. globosa_, allied to _M. conspicua_ of Japan, _M. sphenocarpa_, and, the most magnificent of all magnolias, _M. Campbellii_, which forms a conspicuous feature in the scenery and vegetation of Darjeeling. It was discovered by Dr Griffith in Bhutan, and is a large forest tree, abounding on the outer ranges of Sikkim, 80 to 150 ft. high, and from 6 to 12 ft. in girth. The flowers are 6 to 10 in. across, appearing before the leaves, and vary from white to a deep rose colour.