2U 



THE FLORA. 



Order LXY. CORNACE^. Cornels. 



Trees and sJiruhs, seldom Iierds^ with sim- 

 ple, mostly opposite leaves; with 



-^.owers d-parted, arranged in cymes ; the 4 



petals valvate in the bud ; and with the 4 



stamens standing on the top of the 2- 

 celled 



ovary^ which is adherent to the calyx- 

 tube ; styles united ; 



fruit a 1 or 2-seeded drupe. 



Fig. 495. Low Cornel; ?>, the 4-lcavcd involucre 

 surrounding the head of flowers. 



Analysis of the Genera. 



% Flowers perfect, 4-parted. Petals 4. Drupe 2-celled. Corneil. Cornus. 1 



§ Flowers imperfect, 5-parted. Petals often 0. Drupe 1-celled. Trees 



with small, green flowers in side clusters. Fruit plum-like. Tupelo. Ntssa. 



CORNUS. Cornel. Dogwood. 



Trees, shrubs, or perennial herbs. Flowers in cymes. Sepals, petals, 

 and stamens each 4, with a double pistil. 



1 C. Canaden'sis. Low Cornel. A small herb, with a creeping, woody root-stock 



sending up annually its stems 4-6' high. Some stems bear only 4 whorled 

 leaves, others bear 6 leaves at top and an umbellate cyme of small white flowers 

 supported by a large, white, 4-leaved involucre. The whole resembles a single 

 white flower. May., June. (Fig. 495.) 



2 O.flor'ida. Flowering Dogwood. A small tree, 20-30f. high, with opposite, ovate, 



pointed, entire leaves. The cyme of small greenish flowers is supported by a 

 very large, white, 4-leaved involucre in May. 

 Six other species, Avithout involucres, grow in the country - 



