Big leaves and small leaves at Elmwood Cemetery

Tree # 94 Bigleaf magnolia

August 12, 2014 brought about 100 people to the glass-walled chapel/multi-purpose space just past the bridge entering Elmwood Cemetery. The topic was the yellow fever epidemic of 1878 (eerily mirroring the current ebola outbreak in Africa). Four authors who had written books and articles about this time were there to read from their works and answer questions. It was standing room only for the 5:30 panel presentation. Looking out the window onto the treescape at Elmwood Cemetery, a large bald cypress stood just to the west, Southern magnolias shaded gravesites in all directions, but just across the street to the south there was another type of tree, an unfamiliar large leaved tree. As the lecture ended I was heading out to check out this tree, but stopped to ask the Elmwood host where the Elmwood fringe tree was located. The fringe tree is one of two champion trees at Elmwood. I was disappointed to hear the fringe tree had died and had to be cut down. A new branch is growing from the stump, but the champ is dead. I do not know where another fringe tree exists in Memphis, so it may be a while to get that tree covered. But almost as a compensation the new tree was waiting across the road.

Bigleaf magnolia Aug. 12, 2014

This was a pleasant surprise. I had seen this tree before in Seattle (University of Washington Botanical Gardens, Washington Park Arboretum) when I was a student. I did not expect to see it in Memphis. In fact, the gardens there have an interactive map that is searchable for plants. I was able to type in Magnolia macrophylla and three locations appeared marked on this map (in the Magnolia section of the park).

The leaves ruffle in an unusual way in the wind

The plant's name Magnolia macrophylla recognizes its notable feature. The leaves can be over one foot long as shown below. If you think about it, large leaves are not common on temperate forest trees. Northern trees tend to be dominated by conifers with scale-like or needle-like leaves (spruce, fir, pine, cedar). Deciduous northern trees have small leaves too, like aspens, birches, willows and alders. Temperate trees have somewhat larger leaves, but not huge. Think oaks, beeches, maples. You don't generally get big leaves until reaching tropical forests. This tree is native the the southeastern US. The leaves are the largest of any native North American tree.

Some "macrophylla" leaves

Elmwood is a user-friendly place for tree lovers. Many trees have tags.

Tree #23 American holly (revisited)

A few paces from the bigleaf magnolia we find a small-leaved tree: American holly. We posted on American holly early in the blog. However, this particular tree has an amazing trunk shown below and I thought it worth placing here with its neighboring big leaf magnolia.

An eminently climbable tree like the E.H. Crump Park Magnolia, Aug. 12, 2014

American holly at Elmwood

Hollies are not fast growers, so this is a big tree.