158 . CORNACE^E. 



CORNACE/E. 



Character of the Order. Shrubs or trees, with opposite or alternate, 

 simple leaves. Calyx-tube adherent to the ovary, its limb 4-toothed. Petals 

 4, valvate in the bud. Stamens 4, inserted with the petals on the margin 

 of an epigynous disk. Style single ; ovary 1-celled, each cell with a single 

 suspended ovule. Fruit a 1- to 2-seeded drupo. 



A small order, represented in North America by three genera, namely, 

 Cornus, Garrya, and Nyssa, the first-named alone comprising medicinal 

 species. 



CORNUS. CORNEL DOGWOOD. 



Character of the Genus. Parts of the flower as in the character of the 

 order. Fruit a small drupe, with a 2-celled, 2-seeded stone. Leaves op- 

 posite except in a single species. Flowers small, in open naked cymes, 

 or in close heads surrounded by a corolla-like involucre. 



Cornus florida Linne. Flowering Dogwood. 



Description. Flowers small, greenish-yellow, in a close head or 

 cluster, which is surrounded by a showy 4-leaved involucre. Drupes 

 bright reel. 



A tree, 10 to 30 feet high. Leaves opposite, ovate, pointed, acute at 

 the base. Leaves of the involucre 1 to 1^ inch long, white or pinkish, ob- 

 cordate, or with a callous notch at the apex. The flowers appear in May 

 and June, before the leaves are fully developed, and with their showy in- 

 volucres render the tree a very striking object, 



Habitat. In woods and low grounds from Canada to Florida and west- 

 ward ; everywhere common. 



Cornus circinata L'Her. Round-leaved Dogwood. 



Description. Flowers white, in open, spreading cymes, without an in- 

 volucre. Drupes light blue. 



A shrub, 6 to 10 feet high. Leaves opposite, broadly oval or orbicular, 

 abruptly acuminate, 4 to 5 inches long, 2 to 5 inches broad, tomentose 

 beneath. The cymes are rather small, but numerous ; the flowers appear 

 in June, after the leaves are pretty well developed. 



Habitat. Shady banks of streams from Canada to the mountains of 

 Virginia and westward. 



Cornus sericea Linne. Swamp Dogwood, Silky Cornel. 



Description. Flowers white, in open, spreading cymes, without an in- 

 volucre. Drupes light blue. 



A shrub, 6 to 10 feet high, the bark greenish-purple or brownish- 

 purple. Leaves ovate or elliptical, conspicuously pointed, the lower surface, 

 as well as the petioles and smaller branches, silky-pubescent. Cymes close ; 

 the flowers appear in May and June. 



