Part 61

Cornus alternifolia L. f.

HABIT.--A small tree or large shrub reaching a height of 25-30 feet and a trunk diameter of 6-8 inches; more often smaller than this. The long, slender branches are arranged in irregular whorls, forming flat, horizontal tiers, giving the tree a storied effect.

LEAVES.--Mostly alternate and clustered at the ends of the branchlets; simple, 3-5 inches long, 2-1/2-3 inches broad; oval or ovate, long-pointed, wedge-shaped at the base; obscurely wavy-toothed; thin; dark green, nearly glabrous above, paler and covered with appressed hairs beneath, turning yellow and scarlet in autumn; petioles slender, grooved, hairy, with clasping bases.

FLOWERS.--May-June, after the leaves; perfect; borne on slender pedicels in many-flowered, irregular, open cymes from the season's shoots; calyx cup-shaped, obscurely 4-toothed, covered with fine, silky, white hairs; petals 4, cream colored; stamens 4; ovary 2-celled.

FRUIT.--October; a globular, blue-black drupe, borne in loose, red-stemmed clusters; flesh bitter.

WINTER-BUDS.--Leaf-buds small, acute, light brown; flower-buds spherical or vertically flattened.

BARK.--Twigs greenish or reddish, becoming smooth, dark green; thin, dark red-brown and shallowly fissured on the trunk.

WOOD.--Heavy, hard, close-grained, red-brown, with thick, lighter colored sapwood.

DISTRIBUTION.--Scattered throughout both peninsulas.

HABITAT.--Prefers moist, well-drained soil on the borders of streams and swamps, often in the shade of other trees.

NOTES.--Hardy throughout the state. Easily transplanted. The only Cornus with alternate leaves and branches.

1. Winter twig, × 1. 2. Portion of twig, enlarged. 3. Leaf, × 3/4. 4. Staminate flowering branchlet, × 1/2. 5. Staminate flower, enlarged. 6. Pistillate flowering branchlet, × 1/2. 7. Pistillate flower, enlarged. 8. Fruit, × 1/2.]

+CORNACEAE+

+Black Gum. Pepperidge+

Nyssa sylvatica Marsh. [Nyssa multiflora Wang.]

HABIT.--A medium-sized tree 40-50 feet high, with a trunk diameter of 1-2 feet, forming a rounded to cylindrical crown of slender, spreading, pendulous branches and a stiff, flat spray.

LEAVES.--Alternate, simple, 2-5 inches long, one-half as broad; oblong-obovate to oval; entire, or sometimes wavy-margined; thick and firm; very lustrous and dark green above, pale and often hairy beneath, turning bright scarlet, on the upper surface only, in autumn; petioles short.

FLOWERS.--May-June, with the leaves; polygamo-dioecious; greenish; borne on slender, downy peduncles; the staminate slender-pedicelled, in many-flowered heads; the pistillate sessile, in several-flowered clusters; calyx cup-shaped, 5-toothed; petals 5; stamens 5-10; stigma stout, terete, recurved.

FRUIT.--October; fleshy drupes, ovoid, blue-black, about 1/2 inch long, sour, in clusters of 1-3.

WINTER-BUDS.--1/8-1/4 inch long, ovoid, obtuse, dark red.

BARK.--Twigs greenish or light brown, smooth or often downy, becoming smooth, dark red-brown; thick, red-brown on old trunks, deeply furrowed.

WOOD.--Heavy, soft, strong, very tough, difficult to split, not durable in contact with the soil, pale yellow, with thick, whitish sapwood.

DISTRIBUTION.--Frequent in the southern half of the Lower Peninsula. Has been reported as far north as Manistee.

HABITAT.--Prefers the borders of swamps and low, wet lands. Rarely flourishes in exposed situations.

NOTES.--Of great ornamental value. Not easily transplanted. Pith of twigs with thin, transverse partitions.

+SUMMER KEY TO THE SPECIES OF FRAXINUS+

a. Lateral leaflets sessile. F. nigra, p. 221.

aa. Lateral leaflets petioluled.