Magnolia Michelia alba

Order: Magnoliales
General Overview: Magnolia alba, is a flowering plant of hybrid origin that is commonly cultivated in Southeast Asia and tropical regions of East Asia. Although the exact origin is uncertain, it is considered to be a hybrid of Magnolia champaca and Magnolia montana.
Morphological Features: Magnolia alba matures to 30 meters with evergreen leaves; the flowers have a count of 12 tepals.
Biological Characteristics: Magnolia alba is widely cultivated as an ornamental in Asia, particularly tropical and subtropical regions of China and Southeast Asia for the strongly fragrant flowers. An essential oil is extracted from the flowers. In China, where it is known as bai lan, the flowers are used to prepare yulan tea. In traditional Chinese medicine, the flowers are used to move qi and relieve cough.