OF Ohio 



95 



T 



FLOWERING DOGWOOD 



Cornus florida, Linnaeus 



HE Flowering Dogwood is among the best-known trees 

 of eastern North America. 



The leaves are simple, opposite, 3 to 5 inches long, 2 to 3 

 inches wide, smooth or wavy along margin, often clustered 

 at end of twigs. In autumn they become a beautiful reef. 



The flowers ap- 

 pear about April in 

 greenish clusters sur- 

 rounded by large 

 white bracts. 



The fruit is a scar- 

 let berry about three- 

 fifths of an inch 

 long, arranged in 

 clusters of 2 to 5. 



The bark on 

 young stems i s 

 smooth, light brown 

 to reddish-gray; on 

 old stems becomes 

 reddish-brown and 

 divides into squarish 

 blocks. 



The twigs arc 

 usually smooth, red, 

 tinged with green, 

 often glossy. The 

 flower buds are gob- 

 let-like, about two- 

 fifths of an inch in 

 diameter. The wood 

 is hard, heavy, 

 strong, reddish- 

 brown to pinkish, 

 with light sapwood. 

 It is used for tool 

 handles, shuttles, golf 

 stick heads. 



The F I o w e ring 

 Dogwood is found 

 from Massachusetts 

 to Michigan, Florida 



and Texas. It is common throughout Ohio. In many 

 places it is the most conspicuous member of the understory 

 of the forest. 



FLOWERING DOGWOOD 

 One-third natural size. 



