Dogwood grows in the forests of eastern Texas, usually under the larger forest trees. It is a small tree, up to 30 feet high and 12 inches in diameter, occasionally larger, with a rather flat and spreading [crown] and short, often crooked trunk.
FLOWERING DOGWOOD (Leaf and [fruit], one-half natural size; twig, two-thirds natural size)
The [BARK] is reddish-brown to black and broken up into small 4-sided, scaly blocks.
The LEAVES are [opposite], [ovate], 3 to 5 inches long, 2 to 3 inches wide, pointed, entire or wavy on the margin, prominently veined, 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 pinkish petal-like [bracts], which appear like large spreading flowers 2 to 4 inches across.
The [FRUIT] is a bright scarlet [drupe] one-half an inch long and containing a hard, two-celled [nutlet] containing 1 or 2 seeds. Usually several fruits are contained in one head, and are relished by birds, squirrels, and other animals.
The WOOD is hard, heavy, strong, close-grained, and brown to red in color. It is in demand for cotton-mill machinery, turnery, handles, and forms.
With its masses of early spring flowers, its dark red autumn foliage, and bright red berries, dogwood is probably our most ornamental native tree. It should be used more extensively in eastern Texas for ornamental planting.