| Tree with a Bark |
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| The Dogwood, Cornus florida, is a native of the
eastern and central United States. It grows in every county of
Ohio. It is a member of the Dogwood Family, the Cornaceae.
It is a relatively small tree with an average height of 30 feet and an
equal or greater spread. It commonly grows in the understory of
the forest where it rarely blooms. The Dogwood trees in the
partial shade of the forest's edge get enough light energy to produce
flowers. In more northern regions Dogwood trees prefer sun to
partial shade and will produce more flowers in full sun. The name
"dogwood" refers to the fact that the hard wood of these trees was once
used to make daggers ("dags") or skewers. Dagwood became
Dogwood. Others claim that the name derived from the notion that
the bark of these trees produces a chemical that will cure mange (skin
rash caused by mites) in dogs. Dogwoods make a showy appearance early in the spring with their white (sometimes pink) "flowers" that are produced 10-14 days before the leaves emerge. But beware -- the show is from four white or pink leaves which surround the cluster of small, yellow flowers. Leaves that surround flowers are called bracts. The branches are nearly horizontal to the ground and the branch tips are turned upward. The opposite leaves are oval, about 3 inches long and two inches wide. They have a midvein with prominent parallel secondary veins. In Autumn the leaves turn dark red or maroon and there are clusters of oval glossy red fruits that provide food for birds. Over the last several decades Dogwood trees in the wild have suffered from a fatal disease, an anthracnose blight. However, the trees you plant in your yard are not likely to develop the blight: The disease is most commonly found on trees in shady moist woods and forests at higher elevations and not in suburban areas. Dogwood bark contains chincodine, a substitute for quinine in treating malaria. Chewing the twigs will whiten your teeth. -- Brandi Stover
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