Hunnewell Building, spring, magnolia, 1986
Alternate Title: Hunnewell Building with a Cucumbertree Magnolia (Magnolia acuminata H) in the foreground
Hunnewell Building, Arnold Arboretum, Jamaica Plain, Massachusetts, United States
March 31, 1986
A larger version of this image is available in Harvard University’s Hollis+ catalog.
The Cucumber tree (Magnolia acuminata) is the largest of all magnolia trees. Over the summer, its greenish-yellow flowers turn into cylindrical fruits that look like tiny cucumbers. The fruits develop a pinkish tint when they ripen in the fall, and split open to expose red seeds. This tree can be found at the Arborway Gate (125 Arborway), just before the Hunnewell Building.
The Hunnewell Building houses our Visitor Center, Lecture Hall, Library and Archives, and Herbarium. It was constructed in 1892 and fully renovated with improved accessibility and structural improvements in 1992. It is named in honor of Horatio Hollis Hunnewell (1810-1902), who was a major contributor to the institution. You can read more about H. H. Hunnewell and The Hunnewell Estates Historic District in Arnoldia [pdf].
Copyright © 2003, President and Fellows of Harvard College; all rights reserved.
From “free” to “friend”…
Established in 1911 as the Bulletin of Popular Information, Arnoldia has long been a definitive forum for conversations about temperate woody plants and their landscapes. In 2022, we rolled out a new vision for the magazine as a vigorous forum for tales of plant exploration, behind-the-scenes glimpses of botanical research, and deep dives into the history of gardens, landscapes, and science. The new Arnoldia includes poetry, visual art, and literary essays, following the human imagination wherever it entangles with trees.
It takes resources to gather and nurture these new voices, and we depend on the support of our member-subscribers to make it possible. But membership means more: by becoming a member of the Arnold Arboretum, you help to keep our collection vibrant and our research and educational mission active. Through the pages of Arnoldia, you can take part in the life of this free-to-all landscape whether you live next door or an ocean away.