Trees of Neiv York State 317 



CORNACEAE 



Conius alternifolia L. f. 



Blue Dogwood, Alternate-leaved Dogwood 



Habit — -A small tree 2Li-o(l feet in height with a trunk diameter of G-8 inches 

 or oecasionallY a foot through, commonly a tall shrub. Trunk short, 

 beginning to divide 2-6 feet above the ground. Crown broad, deep, flat- 

 topped, having a storied appearance owing to clusters of branches which 

 radiate out from the stem at intervals in horizontal planes. 



Leaves — Alternate or subopposite. clustered near the branch-tips, ovate, 

 elliptical or oval. 3-5 inches long, acuminate at the apex, cuneate or 

 rounded at the base, obscurely crenUlate, at maturity membranous, yel- 

 lowish green and glabrous or sparingly pubescent above, pale and 

 appressed pubescent beneath, borne on slender pubescent grooved petioles 

 11^-2 inches long. 



Flowers — Appearing in ]Sfay and June after the leaves, borne on slender, 

 jointed pedicels in flat, puberulous, many-flowered cymes 1^/4-2 14 inches in 

 diameter terminal on short, leafy, lateral branchlets. Individual flowers 

 creamy-white, about 14 of an inch long. Calyx oblong, pubescent, con- 

 stricted above and obscurely toothed. Petals 4, oblong, obtuse, reflexed 

 after anthesis, inserted with stamens at the top of the ovary. Stamens 

 4, exserted, with slender filaments and oval anthers. Pistil consisting of 

 an inferior, 2-celled ovary, surmounted by a columnar style and terminal 

 stigma . 



Fruit — A bluish black, subglobose drupe, about ^/y of an inch in diameter, 

 tipped by the remnant of the style, borne in loose, spreading, red-stemmed 

 clusters. Ripens in October. Pit obovoid, longitudinally many-grooved, 

 2-celled. 



Winter characters — Twigs rather slender, elongated, glabrous and often 

 lustrous, green or greenish brown, ill-scented and bitter to the taste when 

 broken. Buds alternate or subopposite, oval, acute, chestnut-brown, with 

 2-3 visible scales. Mature bark thin, reddish brown, smooth or divided 

 by shallow, vertical fissures into narrow, interrupted ridges. 



Habitat — Rich, well-drained soils along the borders of forests, fence rows, 

 and stream courses, usually in admixture Avith other species. Tolerant of 

 shade. 



Bange — Nova Scotia westward through southern Ontario to Minnesota, 

 southAvard to northern Alabama and Georgia. Zones A, B, C, and D. 



Uses — -Of no economic value aside from its use as an ornamental species. 

 It is occasionally propagated in the eastern United States because of its 

 unusual form, profusion of its blossoms and fruit, and the beauty of its 

 autumnal coloration. 



