Distribution: Temperate northern hemisphere with high Asian diversity - 2 genera with 4 species in Texas.
Significant features: leaves are simple,
alternate, and stipulate with the
stipules
fugacious (falling early) and
leaving a stipule scar that circles the
shoot
at the node (distinctive vegetative feature of the family). Flowers shoot-like,
i.e., with numerous, separate parts on an elongate receptacle.
More information on the Magnoliaceae