British Columbia Outdoor Wilderness Guide |
PACIFIC DOGWOOD
Cornus nuttalii
- The
Pacific Dogwood is also known as Western Flowering Dogwood,
Mountain Dogwood
- The
theory is that 'dogwood' comes from the Sanskrit word
for 'skewers' - 'dag'
- 'Cornus'
means horn and is supposedly refers to the hard wood
- 'Nuttallii'
is for the botanist Thomas Nuttall
UNIQUE
FEATURES:
- The
Pacific Dogwood is prevented by law from being dug
up or cut down
- The
Pacific Dogwood is the floral emblem of British Columbia
- The
fruit attracts the birds, the fruit and foliage are
a magnet for bears and beavers while the twigs are
food for deer
LOCATION:
- The
Pacific Dogwood is found on the southern coast of
BC and in central and southern Vancouver Island
- The
Pacific Dogwood grows on deep, coarse, well-drained
soils
SIZE:
- Up
to 15 metres in height
- The
Pacific Dogwood can appear like a shrub or small tree
FRUIT:
- Elongated,
dark, red berries
- Edible
but bitter
- Stay
on the tree after leaves have fallen
FLOWERS:
- The
beautiful, white flowers are in actuality four to
six leaves around 30 to 40 small green flowers compacted
into a 'button'
LEAVES:
- Opposite,
oval, pointed tips, slightly toothed edges
- Dark
green, orange in fall
- 8
to 10 cm
BARK:
- Smooth,
grey or brown
- Old
trees have thin small scales
WOOD
CHARACTERISTICS:
- Fine
grained, hard, heavy
USES:
- Modern
- piano keys, ornamental in gardens, emblem of BC
- Traditional
- wood: bows, arrows, knitting needles; bark: tanning
agent, dyes; branches: slingshots
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