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A family in the flowering plant order Magnoliales. Consists of two
subfamilies:
- Magnolioideae, of which Magnolia is the most
well-known genus.
- Liriodendroidae, a monogeneric subfamily, containing Liriodendron (Tulip trees).
Unlike most angiosperms, whose flower parts are in rings, the Magnoliaceae
have their stamens and pistils in spirals on a conical receptacle. This arrangement is found in old fossil plants and is believed
to be primitive for angiosperms. Their flowers are also not so clearly differentiated into having sepals and petals like most other flowering plants; the "dual-purpose" parts
that occupy both positions are known as tepals.
Reference
Hunt, D. (ed). 1998. Magnolias and their allies. International Dendrology Society & Magnolia Society.
ISBN 0-9517234-8-0
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