410 WOODY PLANTS OF MASSACHUSETTS. 



It is sometimes five inches in diameter. It is found from 

 Canada to Carolina, and westward to Kentucky. 



Sp. 2. The Round-leaved Cornel. C. circinata. L'Heritier. 



A spreading shrub, usually not erect, from four to six, some- 

 times eight or ten feet high, with straight, slender, spreading 

 branches. Recent shoots green, profusely blotched with purple, 

 and verrucose near the leaves ; older shoots pale yellowish 

 green or purplish, thickly dotted with prominent, wart-like dots, 

 or sometimes smooth. Branches opposite, spreading at a large 

 angle, yellowish green, blotched and clouded with purple. 



Leaves opposite, nearly round, with an abrupt acumination, 

 rather rough, with very deeply impressed veins above, glaucous 

 beneath with whitish down, veins very prominent. The lower 

 and terminal leaves on the fertile stems, are very large, four or 

 five inches long and nearly of the same breadth ; the upper 

 leaves smaller and less orbicular. Flowers in terminal, open, 

 spreading, rounded cymes, on rather short, downy stalks. Pe- 

 tals lanceolate or egg-shaped, pointed, white ; style short, stout, 

 green, persistent, with a capitate stigma. Fruit blue, turning 

 to a whitish color. It flowers in May, and its fruit ripens in 

 October. 



Found from Canada to the mountains of Virginia. 



Sp. 3. The Red-stemmed Cornel. C. stolonifera. Michaux. 



A handsome plant, conspicuous at all seasons of the year, but 

 especially towards the end of winter, for its rich red, almost 

 blood-colored stems and shoots. The main stem is usually 

 prostrate upon the ground, beneath withered leaves, throwing 

 down roots and sending up slender, erect branches. These 

 sometimes rise to the height of eight or ten feet, but usually five 

 or six. The bark is smooth, of a dark purplish or sanguine red, 

 sparsely scattered with large, brown, wart-like dots. The leaves 

 are large, ovate, rounded at base, suddenly tapering to a short 

 point, roughish on both surfaces, whitish beneath. 



The fruit is white or lead-colored. Nuttall says, " The fruit 

 of this species, though bitter and unpalatable, is eaten by the 



