Magnolia kobus aka Cucumber Magnolia

Magnolia kobus, also known as mokryeon, kobus magnolia, or kobushi magnolia, is a deciduous tree native to Japan and Korea. It has a slow growth rate, but can reach heights of 8-15 meters and spreads up to 10 meters. This mid-sized tree has an upright and spreading habit, with long, slightly wavy glossy green leaves. In spring, mature trees produce masses of large, cup-shaped flowers as the leaves emerge, followed by clusters of bright red seeds in autumn. This cultivar was named after a pioneering female botanist. The leaves are alternate, simple, and broad-obovate to obovate, with a dark green color above and lighter below. The flower buds are silky gray and pubescent, measuring 2.5-4 cm in length. The white flowers are slightly fragrant, around 13 cm across, with 6 or 9 petals and faint purple at the base. The most intriguing aspect of the magnolia flower is its warmth, as it is almost 10°C higher than the surrounding temperature. This phenomenon remains unexplained by science.