''Magnolia splendens'', commonly known as the laurel magnolia, shining magnolia or locally as the laurel sabino, is a

magnolia ''Magnolia'' is a large genus of about 210 to 340The number of species in the genus ''Magnolia'' depends on the taxonomic view that one takes up. Recent molecular and morphological research shows that former genera ''Talauma'', ''Dugandiodendro ...

native to the eastern

Puerto Rico Puerto Rico (; abbreviated PR; tnq, Boriken, ''Borinquen''), officially the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico ( es, link=yes, Estado Libre Asociado de Puerto Rico, lit=Free Associated State of Puerto Rico), is a Caribbean island and Unincorporated ...

. It is a medium to large evergreen

tree In botany, a tree is a perennial plant with an elongated stem, or trunk, usually supporting branches and leaves. In some usages, the definition of a tree may be narrower, including only woody plants with secondary growth, plants that are ...

16–80 ft tall with dark green leaves and showy cream or white flowers. The wood is aromatic, giving its common epithet of 'laurel'. It was described by German botanist

Ignatz Urban Ignatz Urban (7 January 1848 – 7 January 1931) was a German botanist. He is known for his contributions to the flora of the Caribbean and Brazil, and for his work as curator of the Berlin Botanical Garden. Born the son of a brewer, Urban s ...

in 1899.

References

splendens Endemic flora of Puerto Rico Garden plants of Central America Ornamental trees Flora without expected TNC conservation status {{Magnoliales-stub