Magnolia stellata (Star Magnolia)
If you haven’t taken the time to admire one of the magnolia trees in bloom all around town, schedule it in. It’s worth it. I took this photo walking from my car to school on Magnolia drive. Appropriate, eh? But these beauties grow everywhere around here. Terri took this beauty of another variety of magnolia growing in her yard.
Magnolia x soulangeana. (Don’t ask me how to say that!)
Some interesting facts about magnolias:
There are a bajillion varieties. Broken down into 3 subgenera, 12 sections and 13 subsections.
Medicinally the aromatic bark is used in traditional Chinese and Japanese medicine for its anti-anxiety, and anti-angiogenic properties. (Just looking at one of these blooming beauties is enough anti-anxiety treatment for me!)
Magnolia bark extract inhibits many of the bacteria responsible for periodontal disease!
The magnolia flower is the state flower of both Mississippi and Louisiana. It is also the state tree of Mississippi.
