Decorative values and the nutritional status of some Magnolia L. species under the climatic conditions of Lublin (Poland) Part. I. Decorative values of the plants

Six species of Magnolia L., growing in the Botanical Garden of the Maria Curie-Sk odowska University in Lublin which is located on the north-western outskirts of the city of Lublin, were studied during the period 2006-2008. The aim of this study was to determine the dynamics of leaf and flower development in these Magnolia species under the climatic and soil conditions of Lublin as well as to evaluate the size of their leaves and long shoots. The present study included the following species: M. acuminata L., M. kobus DC, M. liliiflora Desr., M. salicifolia Siebold et Zuch, M. x soulangiana Soul.- -Bod., and M. tripetala L. The magnolia trees were planted in 1968-1989 on grey-brown podzolic soil derived from loess. The study area is affected by the continental climate which is characterized by large annual amplitude of temperatures, long summers as well as long and cold winters. The long-term average annual air temperature for this region is 8.1oC, while the long-term average annual rainfall reaches 541.6 mm. The obtained results showed that, among the Magnolia species studied, M. salicifolia flowered earliest under the climatic and soil conditions of Lublin, while M. tripetala was the last to bloom. Full leaf development, on average for the study period, was recorded earliest in M. salicifolia and M. liliiflora, whereas it occurred latest in M. tripetala. The leaves of M. tripetala were characterized by the greatest length and width, while the smallest leaves were recorded in M. kobus. M. liliiflora was found to show the smallest annual shoot increments and the lowest number of leaves.