Cucumber-Tree is a deciduous medium-sized tree common in the Mountains, rare in the Piedmont of North Carolina. The leaves are similar to other deciduous Magnolias, particularly the Umbrella-Tree (Magnolia tripetala), but are a bit shorter, more broadly ovate, thicker, and are not clustered at the ends of branches.

Alleghany Co., NC 5/31/2009.

Alleghany Co., NC 5/31/2009.

Alleghany Co., NC 5/31/2009.

Flower bud.

Morrow Mountain State Park, Stanly Co., NC 4/17/2011.

Large yellow-green flowers open in mid-spring. The flowers are not as large or showy as those of most other Magnolias.

Morrow Mountain State Park, Stanly Co., NC 4/17/2011.

Old flower beginning to develop into a cone-like fruit, technically called an aggregrate of follicles.

The odd common name, Cucumber-Tree, refers to the cucumber-like shape of the immature fruits.

Morrow Mountain State Park, Stanly Co., NC 4/17/2011.

Young leaves.

Morrow Mountain State Park, Stanly Co., NC 4/17/2011.

Buncombe Co., NC 7/8/06.

Alleghany Co., NC 9/3/06.

Bark of a small tree. A quick and easy way to tell Cucumber-Tree apart from other Magnolias is to look at the bark -- it is rough, quite unlike the smooth bark of the others.

Alleghany Co., NC 9/3/06.

Bark of a slightly larger tree.

Buncombe Co., NC 7/8/06.

Alleghany Co., NC 5/31/2009.

More rough bark.

Morrow Mountain State Park, Stanly Co., NC 4/17/2011.

Alleghany Co., NC 5/31/2009.