CORNACEAE 
Blue Dogwood. Alternate-leaved 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, 214-3 inches broad; oval 
or ovate, long-pointed, wedge-shaped at the base; obscurely 
wavy-toothed; thin; dark green, nearly glabrous above, paler 
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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