Subgenus Cynoxylon Higher classification Dogwood | Scientific name Cornus nuttallii Rank Species | |
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Similar Dogwood, Flowering dogwood, Cornus alternifolia, Cornus sericea, Kousa dogwood | ||
Cornus nuttallii monarch
Cornus nuttallii (Pacific dogwood, mountain dogwood, Western dogwood, or California dogwood) is a species of dogwood native to western North America from the lowlands of southern British Columbia to the mountains of southern California, with an inland population in central Idaho. Cultivated examples are found as far north as Haida Gwaii. It is a small to medium-sized deciduous tree, reaching 10–25 m tall.
Contents
- Cornus nuttallii monarch
- British columbia s flowering dogwood also known as pacific dogwood cornus nuttallii
- Government usage
- Etymology
- References
The leaves are opposite, simple, oval, 8–12 cm long, and 5–8 cm broad. The flowers are individually small and inconspicuous, 2–3 mm across, produced in a dense, rounded, greenish-white flowerhead 2 cm diameter; the 4-8 large white "petals" are actually bracts, each bract 4–7 cm long and broad. The fruit is a compound pink-red berry about 3 cm diameter, containing 50-100 small seeds; it is edible, though not very palatable.
Like the related Cornus florida, it is very susceptible to dogwood anthracnose, a disease caused by the fungus Discula destructiva. This has killed many of the larger plants in the wild and also restricted its use as an ornamental tree.
Cornus nuttallii is named after Thomas Nuttall, an English botanist and zoologist who worked in North America in the nineteenth century.
Some Plateau Indian tribes used the bark as a laxative and emetic.
British columbia s flowering dogwood also known as pacific dogwood cornus nuttallii
Government usage
It is the provincial flower of British Columbia. It was once protected by law in the province (in an act which also protected Rhododendron macrophyllum and Trillium ovatum), but this was repealed in 2002.
Etymology
Cornus is the ancient Latin word for the Cornelian cherry, Cornus mas. ‘Cornus’ means ‘horn’.
Nuttallii is named for Thomas Nuttall (1786-1859), a grower of American plants at Rainhill in Lancashire, though he lived in Long Preston, Yorkshire.