Cornus alternifolia L. f. - Pagoda Dogwood


 

|  back  | forward |

Cornus alternifolia - (image 1 of 7)

 

Taxonomy

Family: Cornaceae

Habitat

Calcareous rocky slopes and woodlands. Forest edges, bottom of steep slopes.

Associates

This list is an amalgamation of various associates found over a broad range of habitats: Acer pennsylvanicum, Acer saccharum, Acer spicatum, Amelanchier canadensis, Aralia racemosa, Arisaema triphyllum, Corylus americana, Corylus cornuta, Cornus rotundifolia, Fraxinus americana, Kalmia latifolia, Lindera benzoin, Parthenocissus quinquefolia, Prunus serotina, Prunus virginiana, Sanguinaria canadensis, Smilacina racemosa.

Distribution

Newfoundland and Nova Scotia west to MN, south to FL, AL, and AR.

Morphology

Shrub or small tree to 6 m; twigs often reddish on new growth; pith white; buds red-purple; bark smooth, thin, reddish-gray. Leaves alternate, crowded at ends of twigs appearing opposite or whorled, ovate, acuminate, simple, entire, deep green above, lighter beneath. Flowers small, in flattened upright cymes. Fruit blue-black, berry-like, on red peduncles, ripen mid summer.   

Notes

Flowers late May to late June

Wetland indicator: Facultative

The specific epithet refers to the fact that this tree has alternate leaves, unlike other members of the genus which have opposite leaves. Sometimes used as an ornamental. Fall color can purple or red.

References

Dirr, Michael A. 1998. Manual of Woody Landscape Plants: Their Identification, Ornamental Characteristics, Culture, Propagation and Uses.
5th ed. Champaign, Illiois: Stipes Publishing L.L.C.

 

Gleason, Henry A. and A. Cronquist. 1991. Manual of Vascular Plants of Northeastern United States and Adjacent Canada. Second Ed.
The New York Botanical Garden. Bronx, NY

 

Swink, F. and G. Wilhelm. 1994. Plants of the Chicago Region.
Indiana Academy of Science. The Morton Arboretum. Lisle, Illinois.

 


Home

 

 Michael Hough © 2004