Magnolia officinalis

Magnolia officinalis
Magnolia officinalis
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Magnoliids
Order: Magnoliales
Family: Magnoliaceae
Genus: Magnolia
Subgenus: Magnolia subg. Magnolia
Section: Magnolia sect. Rhytidospermum
Subsection: Magnolia subsect. Rhytidospermum
Species:
M. officinalis
Binomial name
Magnolia officinalis
Rehder & Wilson
Synonyms

Houpoea officinalis (Rehder & E.H.Wilson) N.H.Xia & C.Y.Wu 2008

Magnolia officinalis (commonly called houpu magnolia or magnolia bark) is a species of Magnolia native to the mountains and valleys of China at altitudes of 300–1500 m. It is a deciduous tree up to 20 m tall with broad, fragrant white flowers and two varieties distinguished by leaf shape, differing slightly from Magnolia obovata primarily in fruit base shape.

Its aromatic bark, traditionally used in Chinese medicine as "hou po," is now primarily sourced from cultivated plants.