COR'NUS MAS'CULA. 
CORNELIAN CHERRY. 
Class. 
TETRANDRIA. 
Order. 
MONOGYN1A. 
Natural Order. 
CORNACEjE, 
Native of 
Height. 
Flowers in 
Habit. 
Cultivated 
Europe. 
15 feet. 
March. 
Tree. 
in 1568. 
No. 1135. 
Cornus is derived from cornu, horn, from the 
extreme hardness of the wood of the Cornus, or 
Dogwood. The name mas or mascula, may be 
traced in connection with this plant for about two 
thousand years, indicating the presence of stamens 
only in its flowers. 
The Cornelian Cherry is of slow growth, forming 
a small tree, which so early as February or March, 
puts forth its umbels of yellow flowers, even before 
its leaves have hurst their hybernaculum. In this 
state, in a bright spring day, when the yellow 
Crocus, equally unclothed, comes to meet it, they 
give a pleasing promise of the charms of summer. 
The leaf, in the engraving, it should be observed, 
was drawn subsequent to the appearance of the 
flowers. The character of barrenness attributed 
to this tree is applicable only whilst it is young ; 
when old, it bears an eatable astringent fruit, from 
which it has received the name Cornelian Cherry, 
or Cornel tree. Its red fruit continues long to 
ornament the shrubbery. 
The tree may be propagated by any of the com- 
mon modes, and prospers in calcareous soils. 
