fif) 
NAT. ORDER. CAPRIFOLIACEjE. 
mose, naked flowers, are true Cornels. It belongs, with Hedera, to 
the natural family of Hederaccs. Cornus is the ancient Latin name 
of the Cornels ; and jlorida implies that the blossoms are more con- 
spicuous than in any other species." 
Rafinesque, in his history of the Cornus Jlorida, describes it as 
being a very handsome tree, " enlivening the woods in the spring by 
a profusion of large white blossoms, and bearing in the fall clusters 
of beautiful scarlet berries. In Louisiana, where it is called Bois 
bouton, or Bois de Jleche (Budwood and Arrowwood), it blossoms in 
February ; in the middle states in April and May ; and more north- 
wardly in June. It generally remains for two weeks in full bloom, 
and everywhere indicates, according to the Indians, when Indian 
corn is to be planted. The tree grows very slow, and the wood is 
hard, compact, heavy and durable ; it is white outside, and chocolate 
color in the centre, taking a very fine polish, and may be used like 
boxwood, which it greatly resembles, especially when stained of a 
light yellow color. A variety of kinds of tools and instruments are 
made of it, as being preferable to any other wood except boxwood 
itself. It grows all over the United States, and in almost every soil, 
from Massachusetts to Louisiana, and from Florida to Missouri, 
thriving best and most abundant in swampy and moist woods. 
The bark of the root, stem and branches, is bitter, astringent, 
and slightly aromatic. By analysis it has been found to contain, in 
different proportion, the same substances as Cinchona, having more 
of gum, mucilage, extractive and gallic acid, and less of resin, quin- 
ine and tannin. The quinine of the Cornus has been called Cornine ; 
it has all the properties of the genuine sulphate of quinine, but very 
little is afforded. The double distilled water of Cornus is lemon 
color; that of Cinchona is reddish. The extract is less bitter and 
more astringent than that of the best Cinchona, but preferable to the 
extract of the inferior kinds. This extract contains all the tonic 
properties ; (he resin alone is merely stimulant. The bark of the 
root is the strongest and best adapted for medicinal uses : it is also 
