204 



FLOWERING DOGWOOD. 



Cornus florida, Linnaeus. 



FAMILY AND GENUS DESCRIPTION The Dogwood family, Cornaceae, comprises about 

 15 genera found mostly in temperate regions. Only 2 genera are native to North America, 

 both of which have representatives in this State. They are the Dogwoods, Cornus, and the 

 Gums, Nyssa. The genus Cornus is widely distributed in temperate regions and comprises 

 about 40 species of which number 15 are native to North America and 8 to Pennsylvania. A 

 few species reach tree-size and yield a very hard and valuable wood. 



FORM A small tree usually from 15-25 ft. high but may reach a height of 40 feet with 

 a diameter of 18 inches. Trunk with little tapor up to the first branches and then practically 

 disappears entirely in the branches. Crown low, broad, high, and rather dense. 



BARE On younger stems and branches light brown to reddish-gray and rather smooth. On 

 older stems reddish-brown to black, broken up into quadrangular scaly blocks. Bark rather 

 bitter and ill-smelling. See Fig. 103. 



TWIGS Usually red, sometimes tinged with green, smooth, glossy, often covered with a 

 glaucous bloom; lenticels few and small; pith white and gritty. 



BUDS Opposite; terminal bud present. Flower-buds terminal, spherical, 1/5-2/5 of an inch 

 broad, covered by two opposite pairs of bud-scalds. Lateral buds small often covered by persist- 

 ent bases of leaf-stalks. Terminal leaf-buds reddish, slightly downy, covered by 2 gaping 

 bud-scales. 



LEAVES Opposite, simple, clustered towards end of branches, ovate, 3-5 inches long, 2-3 

 inches wide, acute at apex, wedge-shaped at base, entire to wavy on margin, bright dark 

 green above, pale below. Midrib and primary veins prominent. 



LEAF-SCARS Opposite, may or may not encircle stem; bundle-scars 3 and occasionally 

 more. Evidently-raised on the base of leaf-stalks on season's growth, and forming a deep V- 

 shaped notch between them. 



FLOWERS Appear about April. Perfect, greenish, arranged in dense heads, and surrounded 

 by a large white involucre which is often mistaken for the corolla. 



FRUIT Ripens about October. A scarlet ovoid drupe about 3/5 of an inch long, containing 

 a grooved stone, borne solitary or in clusters of 2-5 on a stalk. Undeveloped pistillate flowers 

 often persist about base of fruit. 



WOOD Diffuse-porous; medullary rays distinct; light red or pink in color. Wood very 

 heavy, hard, strong, tough, pale reddish-brown to pinkish, with lighter colored sapwood. 

 Weighs 50.81 Ibs. per cubic foot. Used for shuttles, golf stick heads, brush blocks, wedges, 

 engraver's blocks, tool handles, and many kinds of turnery. 



DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERISTICS The Flowering Dogwood, also known as Boxwood, Dog- 

 wood and Flowering Cornel, can be distinguished by its opposite branching, bright red or occa- 

 sionally greenish twigs, small lateral buds covered by the persistent bases of the leaf-stalks, large 

 spherical flower-buds, terminal leaf-buds with a single pair of bud-scales, and by its alligator 

 bark. In autumn the fruit, and in spring the flowers, also aid in distinguishing it. 



RANGE Massachusetts west through Ontario to Michigan and Missouri and south to Florida 

 and Texas. 



DISTRIBUTION IN PENNSYLVANIA Locally throughout the State; most common in the 

 eastern and southern parts. 



HABITAT Prefers well drained soil but will grow on most of our soils. Generally prevalent 

 but most common and thrives best in low, moist, and rather fertile situations. Usually found 

 in the understory of the forest. 



IMPORTANCE OF THE SPECIES The Flowering Dogwood is valuable for ornamental pur- 

 poses and for its wood. Few trees surpass it in beauty when in bloom and when fruiting. In 

 this State it does not reach a suflicient size to be of commercial importance. It should be 

 maintained in our forest on account of its beauty and its value as a soil improver, since It 

 is very tolerant and will grow readily in the understory of the forest. 



