CORN US 



CORN US 



377 



with handsome foliage, often assuming a brilliant fall 

 coloring, and with attractive fls. and frs. Nearly all are 

 very desirable for plaining in shrubberies. They grow 

 nearly as well in shady places 

 under large trees as in sunny 

 exposed situations, and thrive in 

 almost any soil. One of the most 

 beautiful in bloom is C. florida, 



553. 



Cornus winter shoots. 



Showing the opposite 

 bud and terminal 

 flower-clusters. Cor- 

 nus Baileyi. 



554. Cutting of Cornus. 



with extremely showy fls. in spring. C. candidissima is 

 one of the best for shrubberies, blooming profusely in 

 June. The red-branched species, as C. alba, C.Amomum, 

 C. Baileyi, C. sanguinea, are very attractive in winter. 

 Prop, by seeds, which usually do not germinate until the 

 second year. The species with willow-like soft wood, as 

 C. alba and its allies, grow readily from cuttings of ma- 

 ture wood, while the others are sometimes increased by 

 layers. Horticultural varieties are mostly budded in sum- 

 mer on seedlings of the type, or grafted in early spring 

 in the propagating house. They are often grown in this 

 country from nearly ripened cuttings (Fig. 554), handled 

 in frames in summer. 



Various species of Cornus have many interesting uses. 

 Our native C. florida, which in flower is the showiest 

 member of the genus, furnishes a useful substitute for 

 quinine. The bark of all parts contains the same sub- 

 stances found in Cinchona, but in different proportions. 

 It is inferior in effectiveness and more difficult to obtain 

 in large quantities. It is sometimes possible to ward off 

 fevers by merely chewing the twigs. The powdered bark 

 makes a good tooth-powder, and the fresh twigs can be 

 used for the same purpose. The bark mixed with sul- 

 fate of iron makes a good black ink. The bark of the 

 roots yields a scarlet dye. The wood, being hard, heavy, 

 and close grained, is good for tool handles. The Cornelian 

 Cherry has pulpy fruits resembling cornelian in color 

 and about the size and shape of olives, for which they 

 can be substituted. The ripe fruits are soft and rather 



sweet. The name Dogwood comes from the fact that a 

 decoction of the bark of C. sanguinea was used in Eng- 

 land to wash mangy dogs. The small red berries of C. 

 Suecica (not in the trade) are eaten by the Esquimaux. 



Index: alba, 3 and 4; alternifolia, 1; Amomum, 7; 

 Baileyi, 5; brachypoda, 2 and suppl.; Canadensis, 17; 

 candidissima, 9 ; capitata, 16 ; circinata, 6 ; coerulea, 7; 

 fastigiata, 10 ; femina, 10 ; florida, 13 ; Japonica, 15 ; 

 Kousa, 15 ; macrophylla, 2 ; Mas, 11; mascula, 11; Nut- 

 talli, 14 ; oblongata, 9 ; officinalis, 12 ; paniculata, 9 ; 

 sanguinea, 8; sericea, 7; Sibirica, 4; stolonffera, 3; 

 stricta, 10; Tat&rica, 4. 



A. Shrubs or trees. 



B. Fls. in cymes or panicles without involucre. 



c. Foliage alternate: fls. in umbel-like cymes, 



cream-colored. 



1. alternifdlia, Linn. Fig. 555. Shrub or small tree, to 

 25 ft.: Ivs. slender-petioled, elliptic or ovate, usually 

 cuneate, acuminate, nearly glabrous above, pale or whit- 

 ish beneath and appressed pubescent, 3-5 in. long: cymes 

 D-2-2% in. wide: fr. dark blue, globular, %in. across, on 

 red peduncles. May, June. N. Brunswick to Georgia and 

 Alabama, west to Minnesota. S.S. 5: 216. Em. 463. Of 

 very distinct habit, the branches being arranged in 

 irregular whorls, forming flat, horizontally spreading 

 tiers, as in the picture. A variety which shows this 

 habit more distinctly than the common form is var. 

 umbraculifera, Dieck. Var. argentea, Hort., is a form 

 with white-marked foliage. 



2. macrophylla, Wall. ( C. brachypoda, Auth., not C. A. 

 Mey. ). Tree, to 60 ft.: Ivs. slender-petioled, broadly 

 ovate or elliptic ovate, usually rounded at the base, 

 abruptly acuminate, whitish and slightly hairy beneath, 

 3-5 in. long: cymes 3-4 in. wide: fr. bluish black. June. 

 Himalayas to Japan. With the habit of the former, but 

 of more vigorous growth ; not hardy north. Var. varie- 

 gata, Hort. Lvs. edged white. Gng. 3:67. 



cc. Foliage opposite. 



D. Fls. in umbel-like, flat cymes. 



E: Lvs. whitish and with straight appressed hairs 



beneath: fr. white or light bhiish. 



3. stoloniiera, Michx. (C. dlba, Wangh). RED-OSIER 

 DOGWOOD. Fig. 556. Shrub, to 8 ft., usually with dark 

 blood -red branches and prostrate stem, stoloniferous : 

 Ivs. obtuse at the base, ovate or oblong-lanceolate, acumi- 

 nate, 2-5 in. long: cymes dense, 1-2 in. wide; disk usually 

 red : fr. white, with the stone broader than high. May, 

 June. From Brit. N. Amer. to Illinois and California. 

 B.B. 2:545. G.C. II. 8:679.-Var. flaviramea, Spath. 

 Branches yellow. There are also varieties with varie- 

 gated Ivs. Habit bush-like, as in the picture. 



555. Cornus alternifolia. 



