What features distinguish Magnoliaceae from other Magnoliales families?

The Magnoliaceae family is distinguished from other families within the Magnoliales order primarily by the presence of stipules. These stipules are relatively large and fall away as the leaf expands, leaving behind a characteristic scar on the stem.1

While other members of the Magnoliales order typically possess simple leaves, the genus Liriodendron (tulip tree) within the Magnoliaceae family features lobed leaves, which is considered an unusual trait for the order. Additionally, while many primitive magnoliids exhibit more ancestral, leaflike reproductive structures, the Magnoliaceae have evolved more conventional carpels that possess a distinct stigma, style, and ovary.12

In contrast, other families such as the Annonaceae lack stipules entirely and often display floral parts arranged in multiples of three, whereas Magnoliaceae flowers are generally characterized by a showy, petal-like perianth with numerous stamens and carpels arranged spirally on a conelike receptacle.13