The last of my three Magnolia photos, this one shows off a bit more of the central stalk of the flower. It is an ancient flower and looks like it would be right at home in the primordial jungles. This Southern Magnolia (or bull bay) is one of many found on Cumberland Island, Georgia, near the ruins of the former Carnegie estate. Note the two little gnats enjoying the scent and the view. 8^] ----- MAGNOLIA History Magnolias have long been known and used in China, though not under their scientific names. References to their medicinal qualities go back to as early as 1083. After the Spanish conquest of Mexico, Philip II commissioned his court physician Francisco Hernandez on a scientific expedition in 1570. Hernandez made numerous descriptions of plants, accompanied by drawings, but publication was delayed and hampered by a number of consecutive accidents. Between 1629 and 1651 the material was re-edited by members of the Academy of Lincei and issued (1651) in three editions as Nova plantarum historia Mexicana. This work contains a drawing of a plant under the vernacular name Eloxochitl, that is almost certainly Magnolia dealbata. This must have been the first ever description of a Magnolia that came to the Western World. It is unclear whether there are early descriptions made by English or French missionaries that were sent to North America but the first introduction of a Magnolia into Europe is well documented. It was the missionary and plant collector John Bannister (1654-1693) who sent back Laurus tulipifera, foliis subtus ex cinereo aut argenteo purpurascentibus from Virginia in 1688, to Henry Compton, the Bishop of London. To date, the species is known as Magnolia virginiana (Sweetbay magnolia). So the first Magnolia had already found its way to Europe before Charles Plumier found his Talauma on Martinique and gave it the name Magnolia. More info on the Magnolia can be found HERE. ----- Thank you for your luminous comments on my last upload, Alabaster Bloom.

----- Olympus C-8080WZ & PhotoshopCS. (623)