38 Class IV. Order I. 



Stem simple, pending, surmounted at top with a single whorl 

 of six oval leaves, two of which are lower and larger. The 

 umbel of flowers is surrounded by a large white involucre of 

 four leaves, which at first sight is taken for the petals of a sim- 

 ple flower. The berries or drupes are globular and red. A- 

 mong the fertile stems are found a multitude of barren ones, 

 supporting whorls of four leaves. Woods, Brooklyn, Cam- 

 bridge. May, June. Perennial. 



COHNUS FLORIDA. L. Dogwood tree. 



Arboreous ; involucre very large with inversely 

 heart shaped leafets. L. 



A conspicuous and very ornamental tree, covered early in 

 June with a profusion of large white flowers. The leaves are 

 oval, acuminate, pale underneath. Flowers in heads surround- 

 ed by a rery large, nearly white involucre, the four leaves of 

 which have their points inflcxed so as to produce the appear- 

 ance of a notch. Fruit oval, red. The wood is hard and close 

 grained, but the trunk does not attain a sufficient size to become 

 of great use. The bark is bitter and tonic. It is often substi- 

 tuted with success for the Peruvian bark. Found in the woods 

 at Quincy and some other places, but not common. May, 

 June. 



CCRNUS ALBA. L. White berried Cornel. 



Branches recurved ; leaves broad, ovate, hoary 

 underneath ; cymes naked, flat. Viler. 



A shrub or small tree with spreading branches, and ovate, 

 acuminate leaves, whitish underneath. Cymes without involu- 

 cres, as are the subsequent species. Flowers white, succeed- 

 ed by white fruit. In rich ground it sometimes blossoms twice 

 a year. Roxbury, Cambridge. 





