DOGWOOD  

Dogwood is a genus, Cornus, of mostly small trees and shrubs in the dogwood family, Cornaceae. About 45 species of Cornus are known, almost all of them native to north temperate regions, with 16 species endemic to the United States. Several dogwoods are characterized by the presence of showy, petallike bracts (modified leaves) surrounding each cluster of tiny, inconspicuous flowers. They are valued for their flowers, colored fruits, and rich autumn color and are often used as single specimen trees in landscaping. Dogwoods vary from the bunchberry, or dwarf dogwood, C. canadensis--a herbaceous plant, with woody rootstock, which seldom exceeds 23 cm (9 in) in height--to the majestic 23-m (75-ft) Pacific dogwood, C. nuttallii.

Flowering dogwood, C. florida, is a beautiful tree native to the eastern United States. Each cluster of its small greenish yellow flowers is surrounded by four white bracts, notched at the tip, which are often mistaken for flower petals. In autumn the leaves turn a brilliant scarlet, and the tree bears clusters of brilliant red, berrylike drupes. The cornelian cherry, C. mas, has long been cultivated in Europe and western Asia for its small, tart, plumlike fruits.