Q. 45] 



CLASSIFICATION AND DESCRIPTION 



111 



posite leaves. The curved parallel ribs of the leaves in 

 all the species are quite peculiar and readily recognized. 

 Flowers small, of 4 petals, in some species rendered very 

 conspicuous by large bracts. Fruit small, usually bright- 

 colored drupes in clusters j ripe from August to October. 

 There are but 3 species that grow at all tree-like. 



Leaves opposite. (A.) 



A. Fruit in close head-like clusters, red when ripe. 



A. Fruit in open clusters. (B. ) 



B. Branches bright red ; fruit white 



B. Branches brownish ; fruit bright red 



Leaves alternate ; fruit blue 



1. C6rnus fl6rida, L. (FLOWERING 

 DOGWOOD. ) Leaves ovate, pointed, acut- 

 ish at base. Flowers in a head sur- 

 rounded by 4 white bracts, making the 

 whole cluster look like a single large 

 flower 3 in. broad. Abundant in May 

 and June. Fruit a small, bright red 

 drupe with a single 2-seeded nut. Eipe 

 in August. A large shrub or low tree 

 15 to 40 ft. high, with broad, roundish 

 head. Common on high ground through- 

 out, and one of the finest small trees in 

 cultivation. A variety with the bracts quite red is also cultivated. 



2. C6rnus alba, L. (SIBERIAN BED- 

 STEMMED CORNEL.) Leaves broadly ovate, 

 acute, densely pubescent beneath ; drupes 

 white ; branches recurved, bright red, ren- 

 dering the plant a conspicuous object in 

 the winter. A shrub rather than a tree, 

 cultivated from Siberia ; hardy throughout. 



3. C6rnus mascula, Dur. (CORNELIA* 

 CHERRY.) Leaves opposite, oval-acumi- 

 nate, rather pubescent on both surfaces. 



C- dlba ~ Flowers small, yellow, in umbels from a 



4-leaved involucre, blooming before the leaves are out in spring. 

 Fruit oval, y z in. long, cornelian-colored, ripe in autumn, rather 

 sweet, used in confectionery. A large shrub or low tree, 8 to 15 



