DOGWOOD FAMILY 



227 



mountains of Nipal, was introduced into Cornwall in 1825, and, 

 flowering and fruiting freely, is a pleasing addition to the 

 shrubbery. Cornus florida, the American Dogwood, a native of 

 the United States, furnishes a wood useful for turnery and 

 engraving, and the bark of this and other species is used as a 

 substitute for quinine. The Cornus of the 'ancients was the 

 Cornelian Cherry, Cornus mdscula, whose little clusters of yellow 



c6knus SANGufxEA [IVild Comel, Dog-ivood). 



starry flowers are among the earliest heralds of spring. Its fruit 

 is like a small plum, with a very austere flesh, but after keeping 

 it becomes pleasantly acid. The Turks still use it in the manu- 

 facture of sherbet, and the bark of the same species furnishes the 

 red dye for their fez. Two species of Cornus are the only British 

 representatives of the Order. 



I. Cornus (Cornel). — Herbs, shrubs, or trees; leaves usually 

 opposite ; flowers small, white or yellow ; petals valvate ; ovary 

 2-chambered. (Name from the Latin, referring to the horny 

 hardness of the wood.) 



I. C. suecica (Dwarf Cornel).— Herbaceous ; rhizome woody, 

 Q 2 



