Common names: flowering dogwood

Scientific names: Cornus florida (Cynoxylon floridum)

Seasons of significant use: : spring, summer (for Cornus spp. complex)

Characteristics: Native, perennial shrub or tree to 40.0 feet. Bark is grayish brown, reddish brown, or black, rough, broken into square blocks; leaves deciduous, opposite, simple, nearly hairless and smooth to touch on upper surface, finely hairy on bottom surface; inflorescence is many flowers crowded into a head, subtended by 4 large and showy white-pink petallike bracts; fruit is an elliptical drupe, 1-2 seeded, bright red or yellowish at maturity, usually several are crowded together, matures July-October. Flowers March-July.

Plant community type: Commonly found as understory plant in wooded bottomlands and in moist soil conditions in wooded uplands (e.g., along intermittent streams and drainages).

More Plant Photos and Descriptions:
Appendix C: Plants by Common Name
Appendix C: Plants by Scientific Name
Appendix C: Plants Listed by Family