Cucumber-tree

Leaves

Form

• Deciduous, alternate, simple
• Abruptly tapered to a short, sharp tip
• Rounded to slightly tapered at the base
• Very thin
• Lower surface lightly hairy
• Principal veins prominent, branched, widely spaced
• About 10 per side
• Stipules shed soon after bud burst

Length

• 10–25 cm

Width

• Widest near the middle

Margin

• Smooth

Petiole

• Flattened and split toward the base

Buds

Form

• Terminal bud present
• Solitary hairy bud scale
• Remnant of an aborted leaf visible at the base
• Lateral buds much smaller, with tuft of hair at the tip of each
• Leaf scars horseshoe-shaped, with 5–9 vein scars

Length

• Terminal bud 15–20 mm

Twigs

Form

• Stout, aromatic
• Pith solid, round in cross section
• Dwarf shoots present on branchlets

Colour

• Reddish-brown to greyish
• Pith white

Flowers

Form

• Large, bell-shaped
• Not as conspicuous as other magnolias

Length

• Petals 5–8 cm

Colour

• Petals greenish-yellow

Structure

• Synoecious

Floral timing

• When the leaves reach their full size

Fruits

Form

• Cone-like, composed of small, fleshy, pod-like follicles
• Spirally arranged on a stout stalk
• Somewhat resembling a cucumber
• Folicles split along one side at maturity

Length

• 5–8 cm

Colour

• Follicles green, becoming reddish at maturity

Structure

• Follicle

Seeds

Form

• 1 or 2 large shiny seeds hang for a time on slender threads

Colour

• Orange or scarlet seeds on white threads

Bark

Form

• Furrowed into long, narrow, flattish, scaly ridges

Colour

• Greyish-brown

Wood

Texture

• Soft, weak
• Durable and easily worked

Morphology

• Diffuse-porous, close-grained

Size

Height

• To 25 m

Diameter

• To 75 cm

Tree form

Forest-grown

Crown

• Broadly pyramidal
• Upper branches curved upward
• Lower branches droop

Root system

• Deep

Habitat

Site

• Rich soils in moist to wet sites
• Singly or in small groups mixed with other broadleaf trees

Light tolerance

• Intolerant of shade

Associated species

• Oak, ash, tulip-tree, maple, and beech

Range

In Canada, only in southern parts of Ontario north of Lake Erie

Other

Medium-sized trees

COSEWIC Status

Endangered (threatened with imminent extirpation throughout its Canadian range)