Kingdom: Plantae
(unranked): Angiosperms
(unranked): Magnoliids
Order: Magnoliales
Family: Magnoliaceae
Subfamily: Magnolioideae
Genus: Michelia
Species: Doltsopa
Scientific name: Michelia doltsopa
Michelia is a genus of flowering plants belonging to the Magnolia family (Magnoliaceae). The genus includes about 50 species of evergreen trees and shrubs, native to tropical and subtropical south and southeast Asia (Indomalaya), including southern China. The Magnoliaceae are an ancient family; fossil plants identifiably belonging to the Magnoliaceae back date back 95 million years. A primitive aspect of the Magnolia family is that their large, cup-shaped flowers lack distinct petals or sepals. The large non-specialized flower parts, resembling petals, are called tepals.
The leaves, flowers, and form of Michelia resemble Magnolia, but the blossoms of Michelia generally form clusters among the leaves, rather than singly at the branch ends as Magnolias do.
This tree can be found just up from the Spencer Place entrance behind the bench seat. Photo below taken August. Position Lat 39 3' 39.297 S Long 174 5' 43.361 E Datum WGS 84
Michelia Doltsopa in flower August
Photographed October
