The Magnoliaceae reference article from the English Wikipedia on 24-Jul-2004 (provided by Fixed Reference: snapshots of Wikipedia from wikipedia.org)

Magnoliaceae

Magnoliaceae
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae Division: Magnoliophyta Class: Magnoliopsida Order: Magnoliales Family: Magnoliaceae
Genera
Magnolioideae Elmerillia Kmeria Magnolia Manglietia Michelia Pachylarnax Liriodendroidae Liriodendron

A family in the flowering plant order Magnoliales. Consists of two subfamilies:

• Magnolioideae, of which Magnolia is the most well-known genus.
• Liriodendroidae, a monogeneric subfamily, containing Liriodendron (Tulip trees).

Unlike most angiosperms, whose flower parts are in rings, the Magnoliaceae have their stamens and pistils in spirals on a conical receptacle. This arrangement is found in old fossil plants and is believed to be primitive for angiosperms. Their flowers are also not so clearly differentiated into having sepals and petals like most other flowering plants; the "dual-purpose" parts that occupy both positions are known as tepals.

Reference

Hunt, D. (ed). 1998. Magnolias and their allies. International Dendrology Society & Magnolia Society.
ISBN 0-9517234-8-0