Read about Cornus in the Standard Cyclopedia of Horticulture
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Cornus (ancient Latin name of Cornus mas). Cornaceae. Dogwood. Woody plants (one or two infrequently cultivated herbs), grown for their attractive flowers and fruits; some species also for the winter effect of their brightly colored branches. Shrubs or trees, rarely herbs: lvs. opposite, rarely alternate or whorled, deciduous, entire: fls. small, 4-merous, usually white, in terminal cymes (Fig. 1061) or heads; calyx-teeth minute; petals valvate; style simple, filiform or cylindric; ovary inferior, 2-celled: fr. a drupe with a 2-celled stone.—About 40 species in the temperate regions of the northern hemisphere and one in Peru. Monograph by Wangerin in Engler, Pflanzenreich, hft. 41, pp. 43-92, quoted below as Wang. The dogwoods are hardy ornamental shrubs with handsome foliage, often assuming a brilliant fall coloring, and with attractive flowers and fruits. Nearly all are very desirable for planting in shrubberies. They grow nearly as well in shady places under large trees as in sunny exposed situations, and thrive in almost any soil. One of the most beautiful in bloom is C. florida, with extremely showy flowers in spring. C. racemosa is one of the best for shrubberies, blooming profusely in June. The red-branched species, as C. alba, C. Amomum, C. Baileyi, C. sanguinea are very attractive in winter. Propagated by seeds, which usually do not germinate until the second year. The species with willow-like soft wood, as C. alba and its allies, grow readily from cuttings of mature wood, while the others are sometimes increased by layers. They are often grown in this country from nearly ripened cuttings (Fig. 1062), handled in frames in summer. Horticultural varieties of other species are mostly budded in summer on seedlings of the type, or grafted in early spring in the propagating-house. Various species of Cornus have many interesting uses. Our native C. florida, which in flower is the showiest member of the genus, furnishes a useful substitute for quinine. The bark of all parts contains the same substances found in cinchona, but in different proportions. It is inferior in effectiveness and more difficult to secure in large quantities. It is sometimes possible to ward off fevers by merely chewing the twigs. The powdered bark makes a good tooth-powder, and the fresh twigs can be used for the same purpose. The bark mixed with sulfate of iron makes a good black ink. The bark of the roots yields a scarlet dye. The wood, being hard, heavy, and close-grained, is good for tool handles. The cornelian cherry has pulpy fruits resembling cornelian in color and about the size and shape of olives, for which they can be substituted. The ripe fruits are soft and rather sweet. The name dogwood comes from the fact that a decoction of the bark of C. sanguinea was used in England to wash mangy dogs. The small red berries of C. suecica (not in the trade) are eaten by the Esquimaux.
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