History

March shout-out to Magnolias, among the most ancient of flowering trees: up to c.95m yrs old.
They evolved long before bees did & were chiefly pollinated by beetles––thus the tough carpels & petals of their goblet-shaped flowers.
Magnolias bloom in both spring time & deep time. pic.twitter.com/77hA8N6D1g

— Robert Macfarlane (@RobGMacfarlane) March 10, 2024