Magnoliaceae

Greatest assemblage of “primitive” characters – woody habit, alternate stipulate leaves, large solitary flowers, flowers parts indefinite in number with no fusions between them, superior gynoecium, more than one ovule per carpel. No native or naturalised species in New Zealand. Important exotic genera: Magnolia, Liriodendron, Michaelia.

Flowers of Magnolia. The flowers and flower parts are numerous, relatively large and there is no fusion.