76 CORNUS FLORIDA. 
neath, and marked, as in others of the genus, with 
strong parallel veins. The flowers, which are 
very small, grow in heads or sessile umbels, upon 
peduncles an inch or more in length. At the 
base of each bunch is the large spreading involu- 
crum, constituting the chief beauty of the tree when 
in flower. ‘This involucrum is composed of four 
white, nerved, obovate leaves, having their point 
turned. abruptly down or up, so as to give them an 
obcordate appearance. This point has frequently 
a reddish tinge. Calyx superior, somewhat bell- 
shaped, ending in four obtuse spreading teeth. 
Petals four, oblong, obtuse, reflexed.. Stamens 
four, erect, the anthers oblong with the filaments 
inserted in their middle. Style erect, shorter 
than the stamens, with an obtuse stigma. - The 
fruit is an oval drupe of a glossy scarlet’ colour, 
containing a nucleus with two cells and two seeds. 
_ The bark of the Cornus florida is a powerfal 
bitter, possessing also an astringent and somewhat _ 
aromatic taste. Both tannin and the gallie acid 
are abundantly developed. in its solutions by their 
proper tests. In my experiments with the bark 
of young twigs, but a small quantity of pure resin 
was made manifest. | It would seem that the prin- 
cipal seat of the bitterness i is Ina amerhey of ex- 
tractive matter. | menace hin 
