Magnolia insignis

Magnolia insignis (syn. Manglietia insignis), the red lotus tree, is a species of flowering plant in the family Magnoliaceae, native to Nepal, Assam, Tibet, southern China, Myanmar, Thailand and Vietnam.^[2][3] It is used as a street tree in a number of southern Chinese cities.^[4]

Magnolia insignis
Leaves
Conservation status
Least Concern  (IUCN 3.1)[1]
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
Clade:	Tracheophytes
Clade:	Angiosperms
Clade:	Magnoliids
Order:	Magnoliales
Family:	Magnoliaceae
Genus:	Magnolia
Species:	M. insignis
Binomial name
Magnolia insignis Wall.
Synonyms[2]
List Magnolia insignis var. angustifolia (Hook.f. & Thomson) H.J.Chowdhery & P.Daniel Magnolia insignis var. latifolia (Hook.f. & Thomson) H.J.Chowdhery & P.Daniel Magnolia maguanica (Hung T.Chang & B.L.Chen) C.B.Callaghan & Png Magnolia rufisyncarpa (Y.W.Law, R.Z.Zhou & F.G.Wang) C.B.Callaghan & Png Magnolia shangpaensis Hu Manglietia insignis (Wall.) Blume Manglietia insignis var. angustifolia Hook.f. & Thomson Manglietia insignis var. latifolia Hook.f. & Thomson Manglietia maguanica Hung T.Chang & B.L.Chen Manglietia rufisyncarpa Y.W.Law, R.Z.Zhou & F.G.Wang Manglietia yunnanensis Hu

Description

Vegetative characteristics

Magnolia insignis is an evergreen,^[5][3] or semi-deciduous,^[3] up to 30 m tall tree.^[6]

Generative characteristics

The solitary, terminal,^[3] erect, white to pink, 7.5 cm wide flowers^[3][5] are fragrant.^[6] The fruit is elongate,^[3] ovoid-ellipsoid, dehiscent, 7–12 cm long,^[6] and 3 cm wide.^[3]

Cytology

The diploid chromosome count is 2n = 38.^[6]

Taxonomy

It was published by Nathaniel Wallich in 1824.^[2]

Conservation

The IUCN conservation status is Least Concern (LC).^[1]

Ecology

Habitat

It occurs in evergreen broad-leaved forests^[6] at elevations of 900–1650 m above sea level.^[1]

Use

It is used for its wood and as an ornamental plant.^[6]