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Magnolia figo (Lour.) DC.
| Family Name: | Magnoliaceae |
| Synonyms: | Michelia fuscata, Liriodendron figo, Magnolia fuscata, Michelia figo |
| Common Name: | Banana Shrub, Portwine Magnolia, Dwarf Chempaka, Brown-stalked Magnolia, Chinese Tulip Tree, Chempaka Ambon, Pisang-pisang, Kaum Chempaka, 含笑花 |
Banana Shrub (Magnolia figo) is a compact shrub that has cup-shaped, creamy yellow flowers of banana scent, hence the common name. The shrub enjoys full sun to semi-shade condition, bearing glossy dark green oblong leaves.
Name
Classifications and Characteristics
| Plant Division | Angiosperms (Flowering Seed Plants) (Dicotyledon) |
|---|---|
| Plant Growth Form | Shrub, Tree (Shrubby (1m-5m)) |
| Lifespan (in Singapore) | Perennial |
| Mode of Nutrition | Autotrophic |
| Plant Shape | Shrubby |
| Maximum Height | 3 m to 5 m |
| Maximum Plant Spread / Crown Width | 1.8 m to 4.5 m |
Biogeography
| Native Distribution | Southern China |
|---|---|
| Native Habitat | Terrestrial (Monsoon Forest, Riverine) |
| Preferred Climate Zone | Sub-Tropical / Monsoonal |
Description and Ethnobotany
| Growth Form | Big woody shrub (about 5m tall and wide), or small compact tree. |
|---|---|
| Crown | Crown more open if planted under shady conditions. |
| Foliage | Leaves glossy, thick, ornamental, darker green if plant is located under full sun. |
| Flowers | Flower buds enclosed within furry brown bracts. Flowers small (around 4cm across), magolia-like, with creamy-white, waxy petals, strongly fragrant (esp. towards evening), scented like ripe honeydew, bananas or fruity chewing gum. |
| Cultivation | Slow-growing. Suitable as hedge for screening, or can be trained into a standard shrub or free-standing multi-stemmed tree. Prefers fertile, acidic to neutral, well-drained soils with abundant organic matter. Try to grow in final location, as plant is said to dislike transplanting. Propagate by softwood cuttings. |
| Etymology | Genus epithet 'Magnolia named after Pierre Magnol (1638-1751), French botanist, professor, and director of the Royal Botanic Garden of Montpellier, France. Magnol was one of the innovators of the modern botanical classification in use today, and was the first to publish the concept of plant families based on morphological characteristics. Species epithet 'figo' is Latin for 'attach' or 'fasten down, or Italian for 'fig tree', a probable reference to the plant's fig-like leaves. |
| Ethnobotanical Uses | Edible Plant Parts : Edible Flowers Food (Herb or Spice) Others: Flowers used to scent Yulan tea in China. Also harvested for essential oil extraction. |
Landscaping Features
| Desirable Plant Features | Ornamental Flowers, Ornamental Foliage, Fragrant (Flowers) (Night, Dawn / Dusk, Day) |
|---|---|
| Landscape Uses | General, Hedge / Screening, Container Planting |
| Thematic Landscaping | Fragrant / Aromatherapy Garden, Naturalistic Garden |
Plant Care and Propagation
| Light Preference | Semi-Shade, Full Sun |
|---|---|
| Water Preference | Moderate Water |
| Plant Growth Rate | Slow |
| Rootzone Tolerance | Fertile Loamy Soils, Well-Drained Soils |
| Maintenance Requirements | Moderate |
| Diseases | May be affected by scales which will cause defoliation. |
| Propagation Method | Stem Cutting |
| Propagation Method Remarks | Use softwood cuttings. |
Foliar
| Foliage Retention | Evergreen |
|---|---|
| Mature Foliage Colour(s) | Green |
| Mature Foliage Texture(s) | Smooth, Glossy / Shiny, Thick |
| Foliar Type | Simple / Unifoliate |
| Foliar Arrangement Along Stem | Alternate |
| Foliar Shape(s) | Non-Palm Foliage (Obovate, Elliptical, Oblong) |
| Foliar Venation | Pinnate / Net |
| Foliar Margin | Entire |
| Foliar Apex - Tip | Caudate, Obtuse |
| Foliar Base | Cuneate |
| Typical Foliar Area | Notophyll ( 20.25cm2 - 45 cm2 ) |
| Leaf Area Index (LAI) for Green Plot Ratio | 4.5 (Shrub & Groundcover - Dicot) |
Non - Foliar and Storage
| Trunk Type (Non Palm) | Woody |
|---|---|
| Bark Colour(s) | Greyish brown |
| Stem Type & Modification | Woody |
| Root Type | Underground (Tap Root, Fibrous Root) |
Floral (Angiosperm)
| Flower & Plant Sexuality | Bisexual Flowers |
| Flower Colour(s) | Cream / Off-White, White |
|---|---|
| Flower Symmetry | Radial |
| Flower Size - Remarks | 3.8 cm across, bud 1.5cm across |
| Flowering Opening Time | Night (dusk to dawn) |
| Flowering Habit | Polycarpic |
Fruit, Seed and Spore
| Mature Fruit Colour(s) | Red |
|---|---|
| Fruit Classification | Simple Fruit |
| Fruit Type | Indehiscent Dry Fruit |
Image Repository
Others
| Master ID | 930 |
|---|---|
| Species ID | 2224 |
| Flora Disclaimer | The information in this website has been compiled from reliable sources, such as reference works on medicinal plants. It is not a substitute for medical advice or treatment and NParks does not purport to provide any medical advice. Readers should always consult his/her physician before using or consuming a plant for medicinal purposes. |
