COBNUS 



DOGWOOD OBDEB 



COBNUS 473 



bronze blotches, changing to rich purple- 

 bronze in autiinm. 



var. sartifoUa (H. cordata). — A 

 distinct but not strong-growing variety, 

 with roundish, triangular, or obscurely 

 3-lobed, dull green leaves, with obscure 

 veins. 



var. variegata. — A beautiful form of 

 the Common Ivy with light green leaves, 

 edged and blotched with creamy- white. 



va/r. willsicma (H. nigra). — A dark- 

 leaved form near lobata major, but 

 much darker in colour in summer, and in 

 winter almost black ; veins less distinctly 

 marked. 



In catalogues many other names will 

 be found, but as a good deal of confusion 

 exists with the names, it is better to see 

 the actual plants than to buy ii-om cata- 

 logue descriptions. 



LVII. CORNACEiE— Dogwood Order 



A genus consisting of 12 genera and 75 species of smooth or silky-haired 

 trees or shrubs. Leaves opposite, or alternate, often stalked, leathery, entire, 

 or occasionally lobed, angled, or serrate. Stipules none. Mowers usually 

 small, regular, unisexual or hermaphrodite. Calyx-limb 4-5-toothed or 

 lobed. Petals none, or 4-6, rarely more. Stamens 4 or 5. Ovary inferior, 

 1-4-celled. Fruit often drupe-like, with 1-4 stony seeds. 



CORNUS (Cornel ; Dogwood).— 

 This genus contains about 25 species of 

 trees or shrubs, rarely herbs, with 

 opposite, rarely alternate, stalked or 

 nearly sessile, 'entire, or somewhat ser- 

 rulate leaves, often glaucous beneath. 

 Flowers hermaphrodite. Calyx-tube more 

 or less bell-shaped, round, angled, or 

 ribbed. Petals 4, oblong or ovate. 

 Stamens 4. Disc cushion-like, or absent. 

 Drupe ovoid or oblong. 



All the shrubby Dogwoods are useful 

 for shrubberies, and some of them look 

 well in groups on grass against which the 

 deep purple leafless stems look beautiful 

 even in winter. The ground beneath may 

 be carpeted with such dwarf and early- 

 flowering plants as the Winter Aconite, 

 Snowdrops, Crocuses, Soillas &c. to give a 

 brighteniag effect to the surroundings. 



Cultv/re ami, Propagation.^They may 

 be increased by seeds, layers, suckers, or 

 cuttings in the autumn. The seeds may 

 be sown in cold frames, and when well 

 germinated the following spring the seed- 

 lings may be pricked out into light rich 

 soil. Cuttings of the ripened shoots also 

 root readily in most cases under a hand- 

 Ught in autumn, but any that refuse to be 

 increased in this way may be layered, or 

 suckers from the base may be detached and 

 replanted. C. ccmadensis and 0. suecica 

 are herbaceous and not shrubby kinds and 

 require somewhat different treatment. 

 They thrive in sandy peat, in rather shady 

 spots ; and are easily increased by dividing 

 the roots in early autumn. The other 



species grow well in rich weU-drained 

 loam and are benefited by an annual 

 mulching of well-rotted manure in autumn 

 or winter. 



C. alha. (White-Fridted Dogwood). — 

 A native of N. Asia and Siberia, about 

 10 ft. high, with slender, reddish branches 

 and creamy-white flowers, succeeded by 

 white fruits. The variety Spdthi has 

 beautiful broiizy leaves in spring, changing 

 to green with an irregular gold margin in 

 sumraer. GouchalU is another varie- 

 gated form. Sihirica is a dwarf variety 

 with bright-coloured branches, and it 

 also has a variegated form. 



Culture dc. as above. 



C. alternifolia. — A rare N. American 

 species 20-30 ft. high, in a wild state, and 

 on damp ground. Full-grown trees make 

 beautiful pyramids, the branches of which 

 spread out horizontally in tiers and are 

 clothed with deep green bark. As may be 

 seen from the characters of the genus 

 given above, the leaves of most of the 

 Dogwoods are opposite, but in this species, 

 as the name indicates, they are alternate. 

 It has pale yellow flowers, and bluish- 

 black berries borne on bright red stalks. 



Culture drc. as above. 



C. asperifolia. — Also a native of N. 

 America, with reddish- brown bark, small 

 hairy leaves, and pearly white berries on 

 reddish stalks. 



Culture Sc. as above. This species 

 grows naturally in dry sandy places and 

 lilies warm sunny positions.in our gardens. 



