Magnoliaceae: Michelia

Canopy trees to shrubs. Buttresses absent. Spines absent. Aerial roots absent. Bark grey, brown; not peeling in strips. Lamination absent. Odor absent. Exudate absent. Terminal buds not enclosed by leaves.

Complex hairs absent. Stinging hairs absent. Mature twig indumentum present, or absent; dense, or sparse.

Leaves spiral; not scale-like; simple; all of the same type; not modified into spines; coriaceous; gland-dotted, or not gland-dotted; symmetric; not dissected; smooth margined. Epidermis not waxy. Venation pinnate. Secondary veins spaced far apart; prominent, or not prominent, but visible. Smallest veins prominent, or not prominent, but visible; net like. Intramarginal vein absent. Petiole not winged; attached to base of leaf blade; less than a quarter the length of the
blade; not swollen. Stipules present; laterally placed; free of one another, or joined; not forming a cup like structure; leafy; large; not persistent; amplexicaul. Domatia absent. Basal glands absent. Hairs on mature leaf absent.

Inflorescences represented by solitary flowers only; axillary. Flowers bisexual; stalked; medium-sized to very large; actinomorphic; with male or female parts raised on a column; gynophore present. Floral tube absent. Disk absent.
Perianth present; with all whorls looking like tepals. Tepals 6-21. Stamens 100 (many); filaments present; free of each other; free of the perianth; all equal in size; polystemonous. Anthers 2 loculed; not awned; dehiscing by long slits.

Ovary superior. Carpels separate, or partially joined, by base; 100 (many). Locules 1. Styles solitary. Stigmas 1 lobed; not distinctive. Fruit follicular; fleshy, or non-fleshy; not multiple; splitting; not enclosed in, or sitting on, fleshy perianth parts; wingless. Seeds 100 per fruit (many); small to medium sized; wingless; not ruminate; aril absent; endospermic.

Flowers sometimes from short shoots; gynoecium stipitate. Family Magnoliaceae. Order Magnoliales. Taxon images:
 

Michelia champaca This is the most similar to the Michelia alba. The flowers are dark yellow or light orange color.  Legendary ethnobotany resources has this to say about the tree,

    "One of the worlds most fragrant flowers. Buddhist History holds that the Buddha was born under the blooms of this fragrant flower ,as his mother Maya gave birth. Used in incense production, and is one of the most valued. Also used in perfumery and in medicine. Grows as an elegant tree with ovate leaves."

The branches tend to be a little droopy from the weight of the leaves. The underside of the leaves is hairy. Blooms are seasonal. This tree usually can cost as little as a third of the price for a M. alba.  Hardiness would be similar to the M. alba.

Michelia chapensis (little is known)
Michelia compressa (little is known)

Michelia doltsopa Larger than the other species. The flowers are more noticeable due to its larger size. But I have yet to notice any frangrance at all.

Michelia fogii This is a unique species that arose out of horticultural origins. The UCR Botanical Gardens in Riverside CA has 2 specimens the last time I checked!

Michelia figo This is the smallest of the Michelia spp. It is typically starts out as a shrub, but can grow to the size of a small tree. Can be easily pruned to desired shape.  Would do well for many years as a container plant. The most widely known and easiest to find in nurseries. If you cant find any of the other species you might find this one!  But keep in mind that it is still very hard to find.  Price is easily under $10 for a one gallon plant. 5 gallons are also available commercially between $10 to $30. There are currently 2 varieties on the market. The original one from China and the portwine that was developed in the United States. The orginal one has larger cream colored flowers with a maroon edging on the petals. The portwine has smaller flowers and the whole petal is maroon. The portwine can have a lite fall blooming season.

Michelia maudii Height: 15' to 25' Prefers partial shade to full sun and dry soil. Grows in USDA zones 9A to 10A

Michelia yunanenses Little is known  of this species outside of its native habitat!
 
 

Where to see the plants.
By the way. I have yet to find any large collections of Michelia species at any one location. But so far the Botanical Gardens at UC Riverside has the M. figo, M. fogi, and M. alba. The Arboretum at UC Santa Cruz has  a larger specimen of Michelia alba and a large Michelia figo.  I also found numerous Michelia doltsopa in large pots at one of the colleges on campus. The Arboretum at Golden Gate Park in San Franciseo had one large towering Michelia alba until some one decided to knock it down. They have just planted 2 Michelia champaca. There are also numerous specimens of  Michelia doltsopa.  In southern CA gardeners can view M doltsopa at either The Huntington Botanical Gardens in San Marino or at the San Diego Zoo. At The Huntington they bloom in January and February. The best specimens of Michelia alba are found in the private Chinese gardens in the Bay Area.  Most of them are older trees at least 15 ft or higher. And you definitely cannot miss the trees with your nose!

More information will be added as it becomes available.