The Dogwood Family 



195 



wide. The whole cluster resembles a huge flower and is gener- 

 ally so called. This bloom, which usually appears in the spring, 

 gives the tree a beauty all its own. It is still more striking, 

 however, when these blossom-like clusters appear in the fall, 

 as they sometimes do, mingling with the scarlet fruit of the 

 spring bloom. It is a trick that many of 

 the dogwoods have, this production of fall 

 bloom. This passes unnoticed by most 

 people in an obscure shrub like the red osier 

 dogwood of the prairie, but excites com- 

 ment when done by its showy relative of the 

 western coast. 



The fruit is a red or orange, rather flat 

 drupe with the persistent calyx teeth adher- 

 ing to it. These are crowded in heads of 

 about thirty or forty together. 



The wood is hard, takes a good finish, and 

 is used in light furniture. It need hardly be 

 said that this beautiful tree is popular for 

 ornamental planting within its range, but unfortunately it does 

 not transplant well to other climates. It is found in the 

 southern part of the coast region of British Columbia and 

 southward, and reaches its best development in the northern 

 part of its range. 



FIG. 49. Western 

 Dogwood. 



