156 DICTIONARY OF POPULAR NAMES DOGWOOD 



of the Dodder family (Cuscutacese), of which there are several 

 species ; they are slender, thread-like, twining, leafless parasites, 

 involving and destroying the whole plant on which they grow. 

 Two species are natives of this country, viz. C. Epitliymum, which 

 grows abundantly on Ericas, and C. europea upon thistles and 

 nettles or other soft plants within its reach, and bringing them 

 to final destruction. Of late years two other species have acci- 

 dentally been introduced, viz. Flax Dodder {C. Trifolii) and 

 Clover Dodder.(6'. Upilinum). The first destroys whole fields of 

 flax, and the latter preys to a great extent on clover, both plants 

 being the cause of great losses to the agriculturist. In India 

 some species are very large and powerful, involving trees of 

 considerable size in their grasp. 



Dogwood (Cornus sanguinea), a shrub or small tree of the 

 Cornel family (Cornaceae), common in hedges and waste places 

 in tliis country and throughout Europe and Northern Africa ; 

 well known by its pretty, smooth red branches and black 

 berries. It received the names of Dogwood and Hound's Tree 

 from the circumstance of a decoction of its bark having been 

 used for washing mangy dogs. The wood is hard, and is 

 sometimes used for butchers' skewers, toothpicks, etc. The 

 fruit is black, about the size of a currant, very bitter, and yields 

 an oil used in France for burning in lamps and for soapmakiug. 

 The plant is also called Cornel Tree. The name Dogwood is also 

 applied to the stems of Rhommus Frangida, which are largely 

 used for makino- charcoal for the manufacture of the best rifle 

 gunpowder. {8ce Buckthorn.) 



Dogwood, Tasmanian [Bedfordia scdicind), a small tree of the 

 Composite family (Compositse), seldom exceeding 15 feet in height. 

 Its wood is hard, of a beautiful grain, and used for cabinet-work. 



Donax {Arundo Donax), a strong-growing, cane-like grass, 

 resembling the bamboo in habit, but only averaging 8 to 10 feet 

 in height. It is a native of the South of Europe and Palestine. 

 Its stems are used for many domestic purposes, such as walking- 

 sticks, measuring-rods, and musical pipes ; pan-pipes are made 

 of them. 



