About Magnolia kobus DC.
Magnolia kobus DC. blooms in early spring, producing pleasantly fragrant flowers. The flowers are white with faint pale pink tones, and reach around 10 cm (4 in) in diameter. Like most species in Magnolia subgenus Yulania, its flowers emerge before leaves do. Young M. kobus trees do not produce any flowers. In summer, this magnolia has dark green foliage. Its leaves are obovate with a pointed tip, have smooth, glabrous undersides, and smooth even edges. Leaves are 8–15 cm (3–6 in) long and arranged in an alternating pattern. In autumn, leaves turn yellow and fall from the tree. The fruit of Magnolia kobus forms clusters of small red seeds, and these clusters measure 1 to 3 inches long. The seeds attract birds. Mature bark, such as bark on the tree trunk, is grey-brown, while new stems are green with small brown spots. Broken branches or twigs give off a strong odor. Multiple news outlets reported that in November 1982, Hiroshi Utsunomiya of Yamaguchi University found seeds estimated to be 2,000 years old in a pit at the ancient Bronze Age village of Asada. Utsunomiya planted a number of these seeds, expecting they would not germinate. His expectation was proven wrong. Notably, the plant that grew from the ancient seed produced flowers with 7 to 8 petals, instead of the six petals that are typical for Magnolia kobus.
