158 COENACE^. 



CORNACE/E. 



Character of the Order. — Shrubs or trees, with opposite or alternate, 

 simple leaves. Calyx-tube adherent to the ovary, its limb 4-toothed, Petals 

 4, valvate in the bud. Stamens 4, inserted with the petals on the margin 

 of an epigynous disk. Style single ; ovary 1-celled, each cell with a single 

 suspended ovule. Fruit a 1- to 2-seeded drupo. 



A small order, represented in North America by three genera, namely, 

 Cornus, Garry a, and Nyssa, the first-named alone comprising medicinal 

 sx^ecies. 



CORNUS. — Cornel — Dogwood. 



Character of the Genus. — Parts of the flower as in the character of the 

 order. Fruit a small drupe, with a 2-celled, 2-seeded stone. Leaves op- 

 posite except in a single species. Flowers small, in open naked cymes, 

 or in close heads surrounded by a coroUa-like involucre. 



Cornus florida Linne. — Flowering Dogwood. 



DescrijMon. — Flowers small, greenish-yellow, in a close head or 

 cluster, which is surrounded by a showy 4-leaved involucre. Drupes 

 bright red. 



A tree, 10 to 30 feet high. Leaves opposite, ovate, pointed, acute at 

 the base. Leaves of the involucre 1 to 1^ inch long, white or pinkish, ob- 

 cordate, or with a callous notch at the apex. The flowers appear in May 

 and June, before the leaves are fully developed, and with their showy in- 

 volucres render the tree a very striking object. 



Habitat. — In woods and low grounds fi'om Canada to Florida and west- 

 ward ; everywhere common. 



Cornus circinata L'Her. — Round-leamd Dogwood. 



Description.— Flowers white, in open, spreading cymes, without an in- 

 volucre. Drvipes light blue. 



A shrub, 6 to 10 feet high. Leaves opposite, broadly oval or orbicular, 

 abruj)tly acuminate, 4 to 5 inches long, 2 to 5 inches broad, tomentose 

 beneath. The cymes are rather small, but numerous ; the flowers appear 

 in June, after the leaves are pretty well developed. 



Habitat. — Shady banks of streams from Canada to the mountains of 

 Virginia and westward. 



Cornus sericea JAime.— Swamp Dogivood, Silky Cornel. 



Description.— Flowers white, in open, spreading cymes, without an in- 

 volucre. Drupes light blue. 



A shrub, 6 to 10 feet high, the bark greenish-purple or brownish- 

 purple. Leaves ovate or elliptical, consj)icuously pointed, the lower surface, 

 as well as the petioles and smaller branches, silky-pubescent. Cymes close ; 

 the flowers appear in May and June. 



