Magnolias

> Can anyone tell me the symbology of the magnolia tree/flower?

*fnord*

A magnolia is a flower which, though apparently easily bruised and offended, is one of the thickest and toughest flowers of the plant world. Coming from an evergreen tree which is terrifically proud of it's ancient roots, the magnolia carries a distinctive citrus/tropical scent which can not be mistaken under any circumstances for a flower of lesser quality and breeding. In fact, this atmosphere that the magnolia carries, is often overpowering to the casual observer, and people have been known to stop dead in their tracks when passing a magnolia in full bloom, hardly aware of what hit them. Oddly, men seem particularly vulnerable to this effect -- some women find the scent overpowering and unpleasant, with an undertone of carrion- sweet that makes them uncomfortable.

In fact, with it's unsubtle (if effective) big leaves and flowers, scent, and red-studded candles of seeds (most decorative around christmas), the magnolia is the flagship dinosaur tree of the South, representing an age of big trees like the redwood and other primitive evergreens, whose sisters fell into the swamps with the dinosaurs.

*fnord*

Shava
/* happy to be in Oregon */