THE FLOWERING DOGWOOD 



THROUGHOUT a large part of the central and southern regions of the United 

 States the Flowering Dogwood, at least when in blossom, is known to everyone. 

 It is found from Massachusetts west to Ontario and Michigan, and south to 

 Florida, Missouri, and Texas, and it occurs commonly in rich woodlands, generally under 

 the shelter of taller, deciduous trees. In the more northern parts of its range it is rather 

 a rare tree, but in the South it is abundant. It seldom reaches a height greater than forty 

 feet or a trunk diameter larger than eighteen inches, and in the north it is more likely to 

 be a shrub than a tree. Whatever its size and form, when the Dogwood is in blossom bef6re 

 or with the unfolding leaves, it is certain to attract the attention of every observer. On 

 the ends of the upturned twigs there appear to be enormous flowers of a pinkish white or 

 greenish color. These are really clusters of flowers, each cluster of rather inconspicuous 

 greenish blossoms being surrounded by four large bracts which give to the group its con- 

 spicuous appearance. They also serve to attract a variety of insects to help in carrying 

 the pollen from blossom to blossom and from tree to tree. After the flowers have been 

 pollenized the bracts drop off and the fruit gradually develops, attaining full size late in 

 summer and commonly remaining on until autumn as somewhat egg-shaped, red or 

 scarlet drupes, averaging half an inch in length. 



After the leaves have fallen in autumn the twigs are rather easily distinguished, 

 the bark being distinctly downy and grayish in color. When both leaf-buds and flower- 

 buds are present, the former may be known by their small size and conical shape, and the 

 latter by their larger size and very rounded shape with projecting tips. The wood of this 

 tree is of great value on account of its hardness, being used for the handles of many tools. 

 It weighs fifty pounds per cubic foot and is brown in color with a fine, firm texture that 

 has led it often to be called Boxwood. The bitter bark was formerly believed to have a 

 tonic value as a medicine, and the Indians used to obtain from the bark of the roots a 

 scarlet dye. 



The Flowering Dogwood is of extraordinary value in landscape planting, especially 

 for shady situations and for shrubby effects. It is hardy throughout its range, but farther 

 north it is likely to be winter killed. It is comparatively free from insect or fungus enemies 

 but grows rather slowly. In addition to the typical form, which is of especial value for 

 its white flowers in early summer and its red foliage in autumn, the nurserymen offer a 

 red-flowering variety and a weeping variety. In the northern limits of its range the tree 

 is rather uncertain in its flowering, the bracts sometimes being greenish and abortive. 



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