Dogwood

Music Home >> Music Genres >> Undetermined Music



< < < < < > > > > > More Info on Dogwood Similar Undetermined Music Search Artistopia

Biography

The genus Cornus is a group of about 30-60 species of woody plant s in the family Cornaceae , commonly known as dogwoods . Most dogwoods are deciduous tree s or shrub s, but a few species are nearly herbaceous perennial subshrubs, and a few of the woody species are evergreen . Several species have small heads of inconspicuous flowers surrounded by an involucre of large, typically white petal-like bracts , while others have more open clusters of petal -bearing flowers. The various species of dogwood are native throughout much of temperate and boreal Eurasia and North America , with China and Japan and the southeastern United States particularly rich in native species.

The dogwoods include the common dogwood (Cornus sanguinea) of Eurasia, the widely cultivated flowering dogwood ( Cornus florida ) of eastern North America, the Pacific dogwood (Cornus nuttallii) of western North America, the Kousa Dogwood (Cornus kousa) of eastern Asia , and two low-growing boreal species, the Cornus canadensis|Canadian and Cornus suecica|Eurasian dwarf cornels (or bunchberries), Cornus canadensis and Cornus suecica , respectively.

Depending on botanical interpretation, the dogwoods are variously divided into one to nine genus|genera or subgenus|subgenera ; a broadly inclusive genus Cornus is accepted here, with four subgenera.

Common name "dogwood"

The name "dog-tree" entered the English vocabulary by 1548, and had been further transformed to "dogwood" by 1614. Once the name dogwood was affixed to this kind of tree, it soon acquired a secondary name as the Hound's Tree, while the fruits came to be known as dogberries or houndberries (the latter a name also for the berries of black nightshade , alluding to Hecate|Hecate's hounds). Another theory advances the view that "dogwood" was derived from the Old English dagwood, from the use of the slender stems of its very hard wood for making "dags" (daggers, skewers, and arrows).Vedel, H., & Lange, J. (1960). Trees and Bushes in Wood and Hedgerow . Metheun & Co. Ltd., London. Another, earlier name of the dogwood in English is the whipple-tree. Geoffrey Chaucer uses "whippletree" in The Canterbury Tales (" The Knight's Tale ", verse 2065) to refer to the dogwood. A whippletree is an element of the traction of a horse-drawn cart , linking the drawpole of the cart to the harnesses of the horses in file; these items still bear the name of the tree from which they are commonly carved.

Characteristics

Dogwoods have simple, untoothed leaf|leaves with the leaf vein|veins curving distinctively as they approach the leaf margins. Most dogwood species have opposite leaves, while a few, such as Cornus alternifolia and C. controversa, have their leaves alternate. Dogwood flower s have four parts. In many species, the flowers are borne separately in open (but often dense) clusters, while in various other species (such as the flowering dogwood ), the flowers themselves are tightly clustered, lacking showy petal s, but surrounded by four to six large, typically white petal-like bract s.

The fruit s of all dogwood species are drupe s with one or two seeds, often brightly colorful. The drupes of several species in the subgenera Cornus and Benthamidia are edible, though without much flavor. However, those of species in subgenus Swida are mildly toxic to human|people , though readily eaten by bird s.

Dogwoods are used as food plants by the larva e of some species of Lepidoptera|butterflies and moths , including the Pavonia pavonia|Emperor moth , the Engrailed , the small angle shades , and the following case-bearers of the genus Coleophora : C. ahenella , C. salicivorella (recorded on Cornus canadensis ), C. albiantennaella , C. cornella and C. cornivorella, with the latter three all feeding exclusively on Cornus.

Uses

Dogwoods are widely planted horticulturally, and the dense wood of the larger-stemmed species is valued for certain specialized purposes. Cutting Boards and other fine turnings can be made from this fine grained and beautiful wood.

Horticulture

Various species of Cornus, particularly the flowering dogwood (Cornus florida), are ubiquitous in American garden s and landscape|landscaping ; horticulture|horticulturist Donald Wyman stated "There is a dogwood for almost every part of the U.S. except the hottest and dryest areas".Wyman's Garden Encyclopedia, s.v. "Cornus" However, in England , the lack of sharp winters and hot summers makes Cornus florida very shy of flowering.Alice M. Coats, Garden Shrubs and their Histories (1964) 1992, s.v. "Cornus".

Many species in subgenus Swida are stolon iferous shrubs that grow naturally in wet habitats and along waterways. Several of these are used along highways and in naturalizing landscape plantings, especially those species with bright red or bright yellow stems, particularly conspicuous in winter, such as Cornus stolonifera .

Most of the species in subgenus Benthamidia, including the flowering dogwood, are small trees useful as ornamental plant s. When flowering, they are of rare elegance and beauty, comparable to Carolina silverbell , Canadian serviceberry , and the Eastern redbud for their ornamental qualities.

Wood

Dense and fine-grained, dogwood timber has a density of .079 and is highly prized for making loom shuttles, tool handles and other small items that require a very hard and strong wood. Though it is tough for woodworking, some artisans favor dogwood for small projects such as cane (walking stick)|walking canes , longbow s, mountain dulcimer s and fine inlay s. Dogwood wood is an excellent substitute for persimmon wood in the heads of certain golf|golf clubs (“woods”). Dogwood lumber is rare in the fact that it is not readily available with any manufacturer and must be cut down by the person(s) wanting to use it.

Larger items have also been occasionally made of dogwood, such as the screw-in basket-style wine or fruit presses. The first kinds of laminate d tennis racket s were also made from this wood, cut into thin strips.

Dogwood Teeth cleaning twig|twigs were used by pioneers to brush their teeth. They would peel off the bark, bite the twig and then scrub their teeth.

Classification

Dogwoods are grossly distinguished by the relative conspicuousness of their flower s and bract s (involucres). The following classification recognizes a single, inclusive genus Cornus, with four subgenera. Synonymy (taxonomy)|Synonyms are given to provide equivalent names if these subgenera are recognized instead as the separate genera Benthamidia , Chamaepericlymenum , and Swida , in addition to a more narrowly taken Cornus , and also for a five-genus classification, in which Dendrobenthamidia is distinguished from a more narrowly taken Benthamidia . Note that the four species in the subgenus Cornus below retain the same names regardless of whether these additional genera are separately recognized. In a few cases, when a species listed here is sometimes separated instead into two species, that additional name is also listed, with the notation "here including ...".

Geographical ranges as native plants are given below. In addition, cultivated species occasionally persist or spread from plantings beyond their native ranges, but are rarely if ever locally invasive species|invasive .

Bracts showy but flowers inconspicuous

Flower clusters inconspicuous, usually greenish, but surrounded by large, showy petal-like bract s; fruit usually red:

' Subgenus Benthamidia ' ( synonymy (taxonomy)|syn. subgenus Dendrobenthamia , subgenus Cynoxylon ). Flowering dogwoods ; five species of trees, divisible into two subgroups ( Benthamidia , with individual drupes, and Dendrobenthamia , with the drupes coalesced into a compound fruitRushforth, K. (1999). Trees of Britain and Europe . Collins ISBN 0-00-220013-9.).

* Cornus capitata ( Benthamidia capitata , Dendrobenthamia capitata ; Himalayan Flowering Dogwood ). Himalaya .

* Cornus florida ( Benthamidia florida ; Flowering Dogwood ). U.S. east of the Great Plains, north to southern Ontario.

* Cornus hongkongensis ( Benthamidia hongkongensis , Dendrobenthamia hongkongensis ; Hongkong Dogwood ). Southern China, Laos , Vietnam .

* Cornus kousa ( Benthamidia kousa , Dendrobenthamia kousa ; Kousa Dogwood ). Japan and (as subsp. chinensis ) central and northern China.

* Cornus nuttallii ( Benthamidia nuttallii ; Pacific Dogwood ). Western North America, from British Columbia to California .

* Cornus × rutgersensis ( Hybrid (biology)|Hybrid : C. florida × C. kousa ). Horticulturally developed.

' Subgenus Chamaepericlymenum . Bunchberries or Dwarf cornels ; two species of creeping subshrub s growing from woody stolon s.

* Cornus canadensis ( Chamaepericlymenum canadense ; Canadian Dwarf Cornel or Bunchberry) Northern North America, southward in the Appalachian Mountains|Appalachian and Rocky Mountains|Rocky Mountains.

* Cornus suecica ( Chamaepericlymenum suecicum ; Eurasian Dwarf Cornel or Bunchberry). Northern Eurasia, locally in extreme northeast and northwest North America.

* Cornus × unalaschkensis ( Hybrid (biology)|Hybrid : C. canadensis × C. suecica ). Aleutian Islands ( Alaska ), Greenland , and Labrador and Newfoundland (island)|Newfoundland in Canada.

Flowers semi-showy, lacking large bracts

Flower clusters ( cyme (botany)|cyme s) semi-showy, usually white or yellow, with surrounding bracts (involucre) either small and deciduous, or lacking altogether; fruit red, blue, or white:

' Subgenus Cornus . Cornels ; four species of shrubs or small trees; flower clusters with deciduous bracts (involucre).

* Cornus chinensis ( Chinese Cornel ). China .

* Cornus mas ( European Cornel or Cornelian-cherry). Mediterranean Basin|Mediterranean .

* Cornus officinalis ( Cornus officinalis|Japanese Cornel ). China, Japan , Korea .

* Cornus piggae ( Late Paleocene , North Dakota)

* Cornus sessilis ( Cornus sessilis|Blackfruit Cornel ). California .

' Subgenus Swida . Dogwoods ; about 20-30 species of shrubs; flower clusters without an involucre.

* Cornus alba ( Swida alba ; Siberian Dogwood ). Siberia and northern China.

* Cornus alternifolia ( Swida alternifolia ; Pagoda Dogwood or Alternate-leaf Dogwood). Eastern United States|U.S. and southeastern Canada .

* Cornus amomum ( Swida amomum ; Silky Dogwood ). Eastern United States|U.S. east of the Great Plains except for the Deep South .

* Cornus asperifolia ( Swida asperifolia ; Toughleaf Dogwood ). Southeastern U.S.

* Cornus austrosinensis ( Swida austrosinensis ; South China Dogwood ). East Asia.

* Cornus bretschneideri ( Swida bretschneideri ; Bretschneider's Dogwood ). Northern China.

* Cornus controversa ( Swida controversa ; Table Dogwood ). East Asia.

* Cornus coreana ( Swida coreana ; Korean Dogwood ). Northeast Asia.

* Cornus drummondii (Here including C. priceae; Swida drummondii ; Roughleaf Dogwood ). U.S. between the Appalachian Mountains|Appalachia and the Great Plains , and southern Ontario , Canada.

* Cornus foemina (Here including C. stricta; Swida foemina ; Stiff Dogwood ) Southeastern and southern United States.

* Cornus glabrata ( Swida glabrata ; Brown Dogwood or Smooth Dogwood). Western North America .

* Cornus hemsleyi ( Swida hemsleyi ; Hemsley's Dogwood ). Southwest China.

* Cornus koehneana ( Swida koehneana ; Koehne's Dogwood ). Southwest China.

* Cornus macrophylla ( Swida macrophylla ; Large-leafed Dogwood ). East Asia.

* Cornus obliqua ( Swida obliqua ; Pale Dogwood ). Northeastern and central U.S., and southeastern Canada.

* Cornus paucinervis ( Swida paucinervis ). China.

* Cornus racemosa ( Swida racemosa ; Northern Swamp Dogwood or Gray Dogwood). Northeastern and central U.S., and extreme southeastern Canada.

* Cornus rugosa ( Swida rugosa ; Round-leaf Dogwood ). Northeastern and north-central U.S., and southeastern Canada.

* Cornus sanguinea ( Swida sanguinea ; Common Dogwood ). Europe.

* Cornus sericea (Here including C. stolonifera; Swida sericea ; Red Osier Dogwood ).Northern and western North America, except Arctic regions.

* Cornus stricta ( Swida stricta ; Southern Swamp Dogwood ). Southeastern U.S.

* Cornus walteri ( Swida walteri ; Walter's Dogwood ). Central China.

* Cornus wilsoniana ( Swida wilsoniana ; Wilson's Dogwood ). Central China.

Cultural references

The inflorescence ("flower") of the Pacific dogwood (Cornus nuttallii) is the official flower of the province of British Columbia . The flowering dogwood ( Cornus florida ) and its inflorescence are the state tree and the state flower respectively for the U.S. Commonwealth of Virginia . It is also the state tree of Missouri and the state flower of North Carolina .

The poet Virgil makes reference to a haunted copse of cornel and myrtle in Book III of the Aeneid . The hero Aneas attempts to break off boughs to decorate an altar, but instead the wood drips with black blood.Aeneid III 22-23: Forte fuit iuxta tumulus, quo cornea summo virgulta et densis hastilibus horrida myrtus.

Many Christian s consider the flowering dogwood's showy cross-like inflorescences ("flowers") to be religious symbols, due to their four white petal-like bracts bearing red dots on their tips; these trees are often in flower during the springtime Easter season in the Northern Hemisphere . Christian tradition claims the dogwood as the tree used to make the cross on which Jesus was crucified, and further, that dogwoods grew taller and broader until the 1st Century AD, making them suitable for use as crosses. In response to Jesus's death on one, God permanently stunted the growth of the dogwood species to prevent them ever again being used for the same purpose. In reality, dogwoods don't grow naturally in or near Israel. It is native to Europe, eastern Asia, and North America only.|date=October 2011
In the Victorian Era , flowers or sprigs of dogwoods were presented to unmarried women by male suitors to signify affection. The returning of the flower conveyed indifference on the part of the woman; however, if she kept it, it became a sign of mutual interest.
The term "dogwood winter", in colloquialism|colloquial use in the American Southeast, is sometimes used to describe a cold snap in Spring (season)|spring , presumably because farmers believed it was not safe to plant their crops until after the dogwoods blossomed. http://www.farmersalmanac.com/weather/2011/04/25/what-is-dogwood-winter/

Distribution

# Cornus sericea L. has been recorded from counties County Antrim|Antrim and County Londonderry|Londonderry in Northern Ireland .Hackney, P. 1992. "Stewart & Corry's Flora of the North-east of Ireland." Third edition. Institute of Irish Studies, The Queen's University of Belfast. ISBN 0-85389-446-9 (HB)

Notes

Copyright Citations

This article is licensed under the GNU License
Click here for original article: Dogwood


1. The Lyndsay Diaries 2. Slingshot 3. Waxwing 4. Waxwings 5. Hal Holbrook 6. Petals

Undetermined Music Artists