\Mag*no"li*a\, n. [NL. Named after Pierre Magnol,
professor of botany at Montpellier, France, in the 17th
century.] (Bot.)
A genus of American and Asiatic trees, with aromatic bark and
large sweet-scented whitish or reddish flowers.
Note: {Magnolia grandiflora} has coriaceous shining leaves
      and very fragrant blossoms. It is common from North
      Carolina to Florida and Texas, and is one of the most
      magnificent trees of the American forest. The sweet bay
      ({M. glauca})is a small tree found sparingly as far
      north as Cape Ann. Other American species are {M.
      Umbrella}, {M. macrophylla}, {M. Fraseri}, {M.
      acuminata}, and {M. cordata}. {M. conspicua} and {M.
      purpurea} are cultivated shrubs or trees from Eastern
      Asia. {M. Campbellii}, of India, has rose-colored or
      crimson flowers.
{Magnolia warbler} (Zo["o]l.), a beautiful North American
   wood warbler ({Dendroica maculosa}). The rump and under
   parts are bright yellow; the breast and belly are spotted
   with black; the under tail coverts are white; the crown is
   ash.