Deciduous shrub or occasionally small tree with hairless shoots. Leaves obovate to elliptic mostly 12-16 cm long, glossy and slightly hairy below, veins in 8-10 pairs, both sides with netted venation. Flowers spreading, about 25 cm wide when fully open, petals 9-12 in 3 whorls, outside pale pink becoming darker towards the base, inside white tinged pink; late winter to early spring. Fruit cylindrical, mostly 7-10 cm long.

China (C &S Sichuan)

Petals 9-12, darker at base.

Source: Spencer, R. (1997). Magnoliaceae. In: Spencer, R.. Horticultural Flora of South-eastern Australia. Volume 2. Flowering plants. Dicotyledons. Part 1. The identification of garden and cultivated plants. University of New South Wales Press.