Magnolias, Exbury Gardens

Apr 03, 2017 17:53




Magnolia is a large genus of about 210 flowering plant species... named after French botanist Pierre Magnol.

Magnolia is an ancient genus. Appearing before bees did, the flowers are theorized to have evolved to encourage pollination by beetles. To avoid damage from pollinating beetles, the carpels of Magnolia flowers are extremely tough. Fossilised specimens of M. acuminata have been found dating to 20 million years ago, and of plants identifiably belonging to the Magnoliaceae date to 95 million years ago.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Magnolia






With thanks to quarryquest for the mind-boggling information that magnolias are ancient enough to pre-date bees...

gardens

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