XXIT. ALTERNATE-LEAVED CORNEL. 409 
Asia, and one is found in all the northern parts of both con- 
tinents. The bark 1s very bitter and tonic. Hardy plants, 
some of themhighly ornamental, easily propagated by seed, by 
suckers, or by layers or cuttings. 
Section First.—F lowers in cymes, without an involucre. 
Sp. 1. Tse ALTrRNaTe-Leavep Cornet. C alternifolia. LL. 
A beautiful shrub, six to eight feet high, sometimes a graceful 
small tree of fifteen, twenty, or even twenty-five feet, throwing 
off, at one or more points, several branches which, slightly ascend- 
ing, diverge and form nearly horizontal, umbrageous stages or 
flats of leaves, so closely arranged as to give almost a perfect 
shade. It is distinguished from the other species by having its 
leaves and branches alternate. Recent shoots of a shining 
light yellowish green, with oblong, scattered, lenticellar dots. 
The older branches of a rich, polished green, striate with gray, 
the striz at last occupying almost the whole surface, and only 
at intervals allowing the then purple bark to shine through. 
Leaves alternate, on long, round, channelled footstalks, oval or 
elliptic, acute or wedge-shaped at base, with a long acumina- 
tion, entire, somewhat revolute at the margin, dark green, shin- 
ing, deeply channelled above, glaucous or hoary, with silken, 
bicuspidate hairs beneath. 
Flowers 1n an irregularly branched head or cyme; the partial 
footstalks not rising from one point, as in others of this genus, 
but alternate and very unequal; calyx with four very minute 
teeth, and, like the pedicels, hairy. Corolla of four oblong, 
pointed, white, or pale yellow, reflexed segments; stamens 
four, longer than the corolla, large, tapering, with yellowish 
white anthers; style short, with a capitate stigma. Fruit 
blue-black. 
A beautiful plant, with a great variety of character. It 
grows naturally in moist woods or on the sides of hilis; but 
when cultivated, flourishes in almost every kind of soil, and 
even in very dry situations. It flowers in May and June, and 
the fruit ripens in October. 
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