Ask A Scientist© Botany Archive

name         Laurence
status       other
age          50s
Question -   Horticultural Question.

I live in Israel and planted what I thought to be Magnolia tree in my
garden 3 years ago. Its now about 6 meters high and has never flowered.
Instead it has produced fruit? They are green circular about 3cm in
diameter smooth coated and soft inside. When cut in half the outer 50% is
white spongy with a white sap. The centre core is a pale green about the
size of a cherry and the center core hollow.
The leaves are eliptical (about 6" long x 3" wide) Dark green on top with
veins and the under side a paler green with veins and has a crazed effect.
Roots are very near the surface, long and wirey and the lawn in which it
was planted has to to the most part died.
Is it a magnolia? Will it ever flower?
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Still possibly a Magnolia?  Fruit in some species is fleshy.

http://www.biodiversity.uno.edu/delta/angio/www/magnolia.htm
http://www.csdl.tamu.edu/FLORA/imaxxmag.htm

Do you have any photos of the tree and its fruit?

With additional info, photos, might be able to obtain help from local
botanists in Israel.
http://www.ls.huji.ac.il/
http://www.tau.ac.il/lifesci/botany/

Anthony R. Brach, Ph.D.
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