CORNACEAE 



Blue Dogwood. Alternate-leared Dogwood 



Cornus alternifolia, L. f. 



HABIT. A small tree or large shrub reaching a height of 

 25-30 feet and a trunk diameter of 6-8 inches ; more often smaller 

 than this. The long, slender branches are arranged in irregular 

 whorls, forming flat, horizontal tiers, giving the tree a storied 

 effect. 



LEAVES. Mostly alternate and clustered at the ends of 

 the branchlets; simple, 3-5 inches long, 2^-3 inches broad; oval 

 or ovate, long-pointed, wedge-shaped at the base; obscurely 

 wavy-toothed; thin; dark green, nearly glabrous above, p,aler 

 and covered with appressed hairs beneath, turning yellow and 

 scarlet in autumn; petioles slender, grooved, 'hairy, with clasping 

 bases. 



FLOWERS. May-June, after the leaves; perfect; borne on 

 slender pedicels in many-flowered, irregular, open cymes from 

 the season's shoots; calyx cup-shaped, obscurely 4-toothed, cov- 

 ered with fine, silky, white hairs; petals 4, cream colored; stam- 

 ens 4 ; ovary 2-celled. 



FRUIT. October; a globular, blue-black drupe, borne in 



loose, red-stemmed clusters ; flesh bitter. 



WINTER-BUDS. Leaf-buds small, acute, light brown; 

 flower-buds spherical or vertically flattened. 



BARK. Twigs greenish or reddish, becoming smooth; dark 

 green; thin, dark red-brown and shallowly fissured on the trunk. 



WOOD. Heavy, hard, close-grained, red-brown, with thick, 

 lighter colored sapwood. 



DISTRIBUTION. Scattered throughout both peninsulas. 



HABITAT. Prefers moist, well-drained soil on the borders 

 of streams and swamps, often in the shade of other trees. 



NOTES. Hardy throughout the state. Easily transplanted. 

 The only Cornus with alternate leaves and branches, 

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