FAMILY:CORNACEAE
ALTERNATE COMMON NAME:
LEAVES: opposite, simple, deciduous; elliptic,
arcuate venation; passes the dogwood test
FLOWER: cluster of small flowers surrounded
by 4 large bracts; before leaves
FRUIT: red drupe, 1/2”, small tight
clusters, matures in fall
TWIGS: scalloping; large onion-shaped flower
buds
BARK: gray to black when mature; broken
up into small blocks; alligator skin
FORM: small tree, spreading crown, very obvious when flowering in spring.
HABITAT: understory tree, occurring on moist upland soils including lower slopes and well-drained stream banks; sensitive to dry conditions and not occurring or dry sandy soils
WETLAND DESIGNATION: In the "Western Gulf Coast Subregion" of the Atlantic and Gulf Coast Plain Region, this species is Obligate Upland (UPL): Almost never occurs in wetlands. In the remainder of the Atlantic and Gulf Coast Plain Region, this species is Facultative Upland (FACU): Usually occur in non-wetlands, but may occur in wetlands
RANGE: eastern US
USES: ornamental; hard dense wood used for
weaving spindles and novelties; song and game birds, small
and large mammals eat fruit, good deer and cattle browse
Best Recognition Features:
- opposite leaves with arcuate venation
- large showy white flowers
- onion-shaped terminal flower buds
- alligator bark on mature trees
NOTE: Other shrubs and trees with arcuate
venation include other dogwoods
(Cornus), Virginiawillow
(Itea), and Carolina
buckthorn (Frangula)
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