Cornus- dogwood Flashcards
Cornus
Dogwood
Cornus sericea
Redosier dogwood
Redoiser dogwood
globe shaped shrub to 2 m tall and wide
horizontal branches at base, root when touch ground
Cornus -bark
stems give the plant very high winter colouration value
major asset in winter landscaping
some cultivars selected for outstanding red stems and some for yellow stems
new stems very red, often bright turning deep red then brown with age
old wood gray/brown
annually prune to remove old bark and encourage new red bark
Cornus- buds
Terminal bud- dark red/brown; intensely pubescent
lateral buds, smaller obtuse tip and often held very close to the stem
valvate leaves cover buds
covered in brown hairs
lateral buds can be on short stems/spurs
Cornus -leaf
opposite buds
simple leaves
entire margins
medicinal use: poultice on insect bites
shape can vary somewhat- ovate to oblong-lanceolate/elliptical
acuminate tip
rounded to acute base
petioles 1-2.5 cm long
5-7 arcuate veins
Arcuate veins
rather than veins ending at the edges of the leaf, arcuate veins “arch” upward and end at the tip of the leaf
Cornus- autumn colour
most commonly bright red autumn colouration
used to add colour to autumn landscape
Cornus- inflorescence
many flowered
monecious
dense, flat-topped cymes
2.5-5 dm across
terminal flowers
not overly showy when in flower, especially on yellow and white variegated cultivars
Cornus- fruit
berry-like drupe
1 seed/fruit
white
5-6 mm diameter
mature mid august onwards
stone in fruit is roundish (white)
some fruit can have bluish colour- stones in fruit ellipsoid
edible-sour
Cornus sericea spp sericea- bark
stunning variation in twig colour
Cornus sericea spp sericea
ornmental variegtion-white
ornamental variegation- golden/yellow
Cornus alba ‘aurea’
yellow-leaved dogwood
Cornus alba ‘argentea-marginata’
pinkish/purple colouration common
do not turn completely red in autumn
Cornus alternifolia
Pagoda dogwood
