_. DOGWOOD, 75 
The genus Cornus is characterized by the fol- 
lowing marks. Petals four, superior ; irvolucrum 
of four leaves, or wanting ; drupe with a two-cell- 
ed nut. ‘The species florida is arboreous, with its 
flowers in heads surrounded by an incolucrum of 
obovate leaves with recurved points. 
‘Class -Tetandria, order Monogynia, natural or- 
der Stellate, Lin. Caprifolia. Fuss. Cerneetewls isp 
_.The Cornus florida is of slow growth, and pos- 
sesses a very compact wood, covered witha rough, 
broken bark. ‘The branches are smooth, covered 
with a reddish bark, marked with rings at the 
place of the former leaves. — The leaves, which 
are small at the flowering time, are opposite, peti- 
oled; oval, acute, entire, nearly smooth, paler be- 
were abont twelve feet high, spreading horizontally, their limbs, meet- 
ing’ and interlocking with’each other, formed one vast, shady, cool 
grove, so denseand humid. as to exclude the sun-beams, and. prevent 
the intrusion of almost every other vegetable, affording us a most de- 
‘ ee PE: f 
#Et # o 
sirable shelter from. the fervid sun-beams at noon day. This admi- 
rable grove lias by way of eminence ac¢juired the nan of Dog woods. 
During a progress of near seventy miles through this high forest, 
there constantly presented to view, on one hand or the other, spa- 
cious groves of this fine flowering tree, which must in the spring sea- 
gon, when covered with blossoms, present a most pleasing spectacle, 
when at the same time a variety of other sweet shrubs display 
their beauty ; as the Halesia, ‘Stewartia, Aisculus, Azalea, &e. en- 
tangled with garlands of Bignonia, Glycine, Lonicera, &e. &e. at the 
same time the superb Magnolia grandiflora standing in front of the 
dark groves, towering far above the common level.” Travels, p. 599. 
