Description: A medium to large evergreen tree with dense foliage and strongly fragrant yellow to orange flowers. The flowers are produced singly or in clusters and are particularly valued for their fragrance.

Identification: Evergreen tree; simple glossy leaves; fragrant yellow-orange flowers; elongated fruits that develop into clustered follicles.

Habitat & distribution: Native from southern India through South and Southeast Asia to southern China and the Lesser Sunda Islands. It grows mainly in wet tropical environments.

Uses / importance: Widely valued as an ornamental and fragrant-flowering tree. Its flowers are used in perfumes, religious offerings and traditional cultural practices. The tree is also important in tropical landscapes and biodiversity.

Taxonomy:
Kingdom – Plantae
Phylum – Streptophyta
Class – Equisetopsida
Subclass – Magnoliidae
Order – Magnoliales
Family – Magnoliaceae
Genus – Magnolia
Species – M. champaca

Sources: Kew Plants of the World Online (POWO); IPNI; Botanical Survey of India and botanical literature.