FLOWERING DOGWOOD Cornus florida L.
THE flowering dogwood is rare in the northern third of the State. It is a small tree, growing under the larger forest trees, usually 15 to 30 feet in height and 6 to 12 inches in diameter, with a rather flat and spreading crown and short, often crooked trunk. The bark is reddish-brown to black and broken up into small 4-sided scaly blocks.
FLOWERING DOGWOOD
Leaf and flowers, one-half natural size. Twig, two-thirds natural size.
The leaves are opposite, ovate, 3 to 5 inches long, 2 to 3 inches wide, pointed, entire or wavy on the margin, bright green above, pale green or grayish beneath.
The flowers, which unfold from the conspicuous round, grayish, winter flower buds before the leaves come out, are small greenish-yellow, arranged in dense heads surrounded by large white or rarely pinkish petal-like bracts, which give the appearance of large spreading flowers 2 to 4 inches across.
The fruit is a bright scarlet “berry”, ½ inch long and containing a hard nutlet in which are 1 or 2 seeds. Usually several fruits, or “berries”, are contained in one head. They are relished by birds, squirrels and other animals.