generic name Cornus is from the Latin cornu, a horn, and refers to 

 the hardness of the wood. The famous ornithologist, Audubon, named 

 the plant nuttallU. in honor of Thomas Nuttall, the naturalist. 



Pacific dogwood is associated intimately with the forest, usually 

 growing singly or in small groups in the shade of some coniferous 

 species. It frequents moist situations on bottoms, coves, near seeps 

 and streams, and on protected mountain slopes. It occurs on a vari- 

 ety of soils, from gravelly to deep loam, making the most satisfac- 

 tory growth on the fertile forest soils of Oregon and Washington. 

 It grows chiefly at middle altitudes in California, being common in 

 the Sierras in both the ponderosa pine and sugar pine forests. 

 Farther north it is associated closely with Douglas fir. Bigleaf 

 maple (Acer macrophyllimi) , California hazel {CoTylus calif ornica) , 

 and alders (Alnus spp.) frequently grow with Pacific dogwood. 



Pacific dogwood usually attains a height of from 20 to 30 feet, 

 although trees up to at least 50 feet high, with trunks near 20 inches 

 in diameter, are not unusual. Such heights practically nullify any 

 material use of the foliage as forage. However, much of the foliage 

 of the reproduction, and the slow-growing and shrubby specimens on 

 poor sites occur within the reach of livestock. Furthermore, the 

 tendency of this species to produce many stems, particularly on very 

 moist sites, results in slender growth which is frequently bent near 

 the ground by the weight of the winter snow, and hence made ac- 

 cessible to livestock. However, the volume of this forage is invari- 

 ably less than it seems to be. Ordinarily, the plants are scattered, 

 compose but a small percentage of the cover, and the branches near 

 the ground are usually not so leafy as the higher ones. 



On many ranges the utilization of this plant by livestock is almost 

 negligible, because of other and more palatable browse, or because, 

 as is commonly the case, of light or no use of the timbered portions 

 of the range where it is common. When available under normal use, 

 Pacific dogwood is poor forage for cattle but fair for sheep. The 

 bark and, to some extent, the leaves, have a bitter taste, which may 

 affect livestock use of this species. This bitterness is probably due to 

 quininelike substances, as flowering dogwood (C. forida), a closely 

 related eastern species, yields a useful substitute for quinine reputed 

 to possess much the same effect in the treatment of fevers. 



Pacific dogwood has gained some importance as an ornamental 

 because its large, white, and showy involucral bracts resemble petals, 

 and with the central, buttonlike head of green flowers, simulate a 

 large, white, and attractive flower. They appear during the spring 

 in the forest; a second flowering in the fall is not uncommon where 

 the species is grown as a cultivated plant. The shiny red fruit and 

 the beautiful autumnal leafage, especially when each leaf contains 

 several colors dominated by reds, are other advantages which adapt 

 it as an ornamental. Pacific dogwood also has its disadvantage, as 

 it is not hardy and, ordinarily, does not thrive outside its native 

 range, although now cultivated successfully in southern England. 

 The wood is dense, fine-grained, and heavy, and is very good for lathe 

 work, although it checks badly if cured rapidly. The wood will 

 probably never be important commercially because the supply is 

 limited. 



