CORNACEAE

DOGWOOD FAMILY

James R. Shevock

Perennial, shrubs, trees, sometimes dioecious
Leaves generally opposite, simple, generally entire, generally deciduous; stipules 0
Inflorescence: cyme or racemes, generally umbel- or head-like, sometimes subtended by showy, petal-like bracts
Flower generally small, generally bisexual; calyx generally 4-lobed; petals 0 or 4(5), free; stamens generally as many as and alternate petals; ovary inferior, chambers 1–4, each 1-ovuled, style simple, stigma 1–4-lobed
Fruit: generally drupe or berry
Seeds generally 1–2
Genera in family: ± 12 genera, ± 100 species: especially n temp (also s tropical, subtropical). Cult as ornamental (Cornus, Aucuba ); some timber species. Genera diverse; many have been treated as constituting families, but trend is to treat Cornaceae broadly
Reference: [Eyde 1987 Syst Bot 12:505–518]

CORNUS

DOGWOOD

Perennial, shrubs, trees
Leaves generally opposite or whorled, simple, generally deciduous; both ends generally tapered
Inflorescence small, head- or umbel-like, and surrounded by showy bracts (or cyme, large, open, lacking showy bracts)
Flower generally minute; sepals 4, fused at base; petals 4; stamens 4, attached to receptacle; style 1, thread-like, stigma simple
Fruit: drupe; stone 1–2-chambered
Species in genus: ± 50 species: n temp (rare in s hemisphere); many cultivated as ornamental, some for autumn color. Some fruit used for jam, syrup
Etymology: (Latin: horn, from the hard wood)
Divided by some into at least 6 genera.

Native

C. sessilis Durand

Shrub, small trees < 5 m; herbage subglabrous
Stem gray or yellowish brown
Leaves deciduous; blade 4.5–9 cm, generally obovate to elliptic, strigose below (± tomentose at vein axils); petiole 5–10 mm
Inflorescence: cluster, umbel-like, sessile; subtending bracts 4, ± 1 cm, ephemeral, brownish, generally with yellow margins; pedicel ± 1 cm, soft-white-hairy; flowers few–several
Flower yellowish; sepals 0.5 mm; petals 3 mm; style 1 mm
Fruit 1–1.5 cm, elliptic in outline, greenish white becoming yellow, then red, then shiny purple-black
Ecology: Streambanks
Elevation: < 1550 m.
Bioregional distribution: Northwestern California, Cascade Range, n Sierra Nevada
Horticultural information: IRR: 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 14, 15, 16, 17, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24.