COKNACEAE 267 



About 50 species in the northern hemisphere. The bark, leaves and 

 fruit are used in medicine for their astringent and tonic properties. The 

 genus is highly ornamental. A large number of species have an inflores- 

 cence accompanied by showy petal-like bracts which makes the tree 

 extremely attractive in bloom. The brightly colored stem and twigs of 

 some shrubby species render them desirable as decorative subjects. 



Cornus kousa Buerger. 



(Benthamia japonica Siebold & Zuccarini.) 



Shrub or small tree up to 10 m. high. Young shoots smooth. Leaves 

 elliptic-ovate, acuminate, cuneate at the base, margin undulate, dark 

 green above, pale green and pubescent below, 5-10 cm. long. Inflorescence 

 appears after the leaves, very showy, composed of small, inconspicuous 

 flowers closely packed in a terminal head, surrounded by 4 showy, creamy- 

 white bracts developed from the 4 accrescent winter bud scales; bracts 

 3.5-5 cm. long, ovate and slender pointed. Fruit fleshy, in a globose 

 head. 



China, Korea and Japan. 



This tree presents a strikingly handsome appearance when in bloom. 



Cornus capitata Wallich. 



(Benthamia fragifera Lindley.) , 



A small tree, 10 m. tall. Leaves leathery, ovate-lanceolate, tapered 

 at both ends, densely pubescent below, slightly pubescent above, 5-10 cm. 

 long. Bracts ovate, acute, yellow. Fruit strawberry-like, scarlet, 2.5 cm. 

 across, composed of numerous small drupes, each containing a stony 

 seed. 



Himalayas to China. 



China: Hupeh, Szechuan, Yunnan. 



Cornus controversa Hemsley. 



Tree 18 m. tall. Leaves irregularly alternate, ovate, rounded at the 

 base, acuminate. Flowers in umbel-like cymes, cream colored, 8-10 cm. 

 wide. Fruit blue-black. 



Himalayas, China and Japan. 



Kiangsi, Hupeh, Szechuan, Yunnan. 



