Flowering
Dogwood
(Cornusflorida
L)
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Flowering
dogwood is named and admired for the white drifts of flowers it
adds to the woodlands in early spring. It grows throughout the
state, usually under the larger forest trees. Dogwood has the
distinction of being the state flower. It is a small tree, usually
10 to 20 feet tall and 4 to 6 inches in diameter. Occasionally
it will reach 40 feet in height, with a trunk diameter of 12 to
18 inches.
What most people think of as the "flowers" of dogwood actually
are four 4 large, white (sometimes pink,) petal-like bracts that
are notched at the end. The true flower is an inconspicuous, greenish
white or yellowish, compact head in the center of the showy bracts.
The bright red, oval fruit (a drupe) is borne in tight clusters.
It ripens in October.
The leaves are opposite and 3 to 5 inches long. The veins curve
like a bow and tend to parallel the margin of the leaves. The
bark of flowering dogwood is dark red-brown, dividing into small
scaly blocks on older trees.
The brown to red wood is hard, heavy, strong and very close grained.
It is used for textile shuttles and spools and for handles and
mallets. |
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