Britannica
Sources used in this answer
What causes the leaf scars found on branches of Magnoliaceae plants?
Created from Britannica articles
using AI.
AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.
Magnoliales
Magnolia (Magnolia fraseri).
The leaf scars found on the branches of Magnoliaceae plants are caused by the shedding of stipules.
Unlike other families within the order Magnoliales, members of the Magnoliaceae family possess these relatively large, leaflike appendages at the base of the leaf stalk. As the leaf expands, the stipules fall off, leaving behind a distinct scar on the branch.1