Amazing Trees

 Flowering Dogwood

 Scientific Classification

Scientific Name - Cornus florida

Domain              - Eukaryota

Kingdom            - Animalia                                

Phylum              - Anthophyta

Class                 - Magnoliopsida

Order                - Cornales

Family              - Cornaceae

Genus               - Cornus

Species            - C.florida

Cornus florida, the flowering dogwood, is a species of flowering tree in the family Cornaceae native to Easter North America and Northern Mexico. An endemic population once spanned from southern most coastal Marine south to northern Florida and west to the Mississippi river. The tree is commonly planted as an ornamental an residential and public areas because of it's showy bracts and interesting bark structure.

Two subspecies are generally recognized. They are Cornus florida subsp. florida and Cornus florida subsp.urbiniana ( rose ).The state tree of Virginia, flowering dogwood grows 20 to 35 feet tall and spreads 25 to 30 feet. It is a plant with four-season character showy spring flowers, summer, and fall foliage, fall fruit and winter branching habit. Trees can be used in groupings, as specimen or in naturalized areas. The average lifespan is 80 years.

The fungus, Elsinoe corni, causes spot anthracnose. It is the common disease of flowering dogwood. while by itself this disease is not life threatening to healthy trees, it can be a contributing factor to tree decline. Generally speaking, dogwoods are not poisonous. There is plenty of variety when it comes to different dogwoods : some do and some do not shed berries. The berries by themselves are not considered poisonous but are considered inedible and they can cause some gastrointestinal distress if consumed in excess.

Native American used the bark and roots in a remedy for malaria. A red dye was also extracted from the roots. The species has been used in in production of inks, scarlet dyes, and as a quinine substitute. The hard, dense wood has been used for products such as golf club heads, mallets, wooden rake teeth, tool handless.

Cornus florida is the state tree and flower of Virginia. The state tree if Missouri and state flower of North Carolina.

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