Sweetbay is a more petite version of the familiar Magnolia grandiflora, distinguished by its glaucous leaf undersides, smaller flowers, and smaller, thinner leaver.

Bladen Co., NC 8/12/07.

The flowers have an intoxicating rich, sweet scent. Common in the Coastal Plain, occasional in the lower Piedmont of North Carolina.

Carteret Co., NC 5/31/03.

Carteret Co., NC 6/23/04.

The undersides are normally quite white.

Carteret Co., NC 5/31/03.

The cone-like fruit (an aggregate of follicles) pops open in late summer to expose bright red seeds.

Carteret Co., NC 8/24/03.

Carteret Co., NC 8/29/04.

Bark of a small tree.

Moore Co., NC 3/14/07.