Pacific Dogwood
Encyclopedia
The Pacific Dogwood, Cornus nuttallii (syn. Benthamidia nuttallii), is a species of dogwood
native to western North America
from lowlands of southern British Columbia
to mountains of southern California
. An inland population occurs 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.
The leaves
are opposite, simple oval, 8-12 cm long and 5-8 cm broad. The flower
s 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 bract
s, each bract 4-7 cm long and broad. The fruit
is a compound pink-red berry about 3 cm diameter, containing 50-100 small seed
s; it is edible, though not very palatable.
Like the related Flowering Dogwood
, 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 restricts its use as an ornamental tree.
Cornus nuttallii is named after Thomas Nuttall
, an English botanist and zoologist who worked in the America in the nineteenth century.
Some Plateau Indian tribes used the bark as a laxative
and to induce vomiting
.
. It was protected by law there (along with Rhododendron macrophyllum
and Trillium ovatum
in the same act), but the protection was repealed in 2002.
Students who graduated from a BC High School curriculum program are awarded the "Dogwood Diploma" from the Ministry of Education (Officially, British Columbia Certificate of Graduation).
Dogwood
The genus Cornus is a group of about 30-60 species of woody plants in the family Cornaceae, commonly known as dogwoods. Most dogwoods are deciduous trees or shrubs, but a few species are nearly herbaceous perennial subshrubs, and a few of the woody species are evergreen...
native to western North America
North America
North America is a continent wholly within the Northern Hemisphere and almost wholly within the Western Hemisphere. It is also considered a northern subcontinent of the Americas...
from lowlands of southern British Columbia
British Columbia
British Columbia is the westernmost of Canada's provinces and is known for its natural beauty, as reflected in its Latin motto, Splendor sine occasu . Its name was chosen by Queen Victoria in 1858...
to mountains of southern California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
. An inland population occurs in central Idaho
Idaho
Idaho is a state in the Rocky Mountain area of the United States. The state's largest city and capital is Boise. Residents are called "Idahoans". Idaho was admitted to the Union on July 3, 1890, as the 43rd state....
. Cultivated examples are found as far north as Haida Gwaii. It is a small to medium-sized deciduous tree
Tree
A tree is a perennial woody plant. It is most often defined as a woody plant that has many secondary branches supported clear of the ground on a single main stem or trunk with clear apical dominance. A minimum height specification at maturity is cited by some authors, varying from 3 m to...
, reaching 10-25 m tall.
Leaf
A leaf is an organ of a vascular plant, as defined in botanical terms, and in particular in plant morphology. Foliage is a mass noun that refers to leaves as a feature of plants....
are opposite, simple oval, 8-12 cm long and 5-8 cm broad. The flower
Flower
A flower, sometimes known as a bloom or blossom, is the reproductive structure found in flowering plants . The biological function of a flower is to effect reproduction, usually by providing a mechanism for the union of sperm with eggs...
s 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 bract
Bract
In botany, a bract is a modified or specialized leaf, especially one associated with a reproductive structure such as a flower, inflorescence axis, or cone scale. Bracts are often different from foliage leaves. They may be smaller, larger, or of a different color, shape, or texture...
s, each bract 4-7 cm long and broad. The fruit
Fruit
In broad terms, a fruit is a structure of a plant that contains its seeds.The term has different meanings dependent on context. In non-technical usage, such as food preparation, fruit normally means the fleshy seed-associated structures of certain plants that are sweet and edible in the raw state,...
is a compound pink-red berry about 3 cm diameter, containing 50-100 small seed
Seed
A seed is a small embryonic plant enclosed in a covering called the seed coat, usually with some stored food. It is the product of the ripened ovule of gymnosperm and angiosperm plants which occurs after fertilization and some growth within the mother plant...
s; it is edible, though not very palatable.
Like the related Flowering Dogwood
Flowering Dogwood
Cornus florida is a species of dogwood native to eastern North America, from southern Maine west to southern Ontario, Illinois, and eastern Kansas, and south to northern Florida and eastern Texas, with a disjunct population in Nuevo León and Veracruz in eastern Mexico.-Classification:The flowering...
, it is very susceptible to dogwood anthracnose, a disease
Disease
A disease is an abnormal condition affecting the body of an organism. It is often construed to be a medical condition associated with specific symptoms and signs. It may be caused by external factors, such as infectious disease, or it may be caused by internal dysfunctions, such as autoimmune...
caused by the fungus
Fungus
A fungus is a member of a large group of eukaryotic organisms that includes microorganisms such as yeasts and molds , as well as the more familiar mushrooms. These organisms are classified as a kingdom, Fungi, which is separate from plants, animals, and bacteria...
Discula destructiva
Discula destructiva
Discula destructiva is a fungus in the family Valsaceae which causes dogwood anthracnose, affecting populations of dogwood trees native to North America....
. This has killed many of the larger plants in the wild and also restricts its use as an ornamental tree.
Cornus nuttallii is named after Thomas Nuttall
Thomas Nuttall
Thomas Nuttall was an English botanist and zoologist, who lived and worked in America from 1808 until 1841....
, an English botanist and zoologist who worked in the America in the nineteenth century.
Some Plateau Indian tribes used the bark as a laxative
Laxative
Laxatives are foods, compounds, or drugs taken to induce bowel movements or to loosen the stool, most often taken to treat constipation. Certain stimulant, lubricant, and saline laxatives are used to evacuate the colon for rectal and/or bowel examinations, and may be supplemented by enemas under...
and to induce vomiting
Vomiting
Vomiting is the forceful expulsion of the contents of one's stomach through the mouth and sometimes the nose...
.
Government usage
It is the provincial flower of British ColumbiaBritish Columbia
British Columbia is the westernmost of Canada's provinces and is known for its natural beauty, as reflected in its Latin motto, Splendor sine occasu . Its name was chosen by Queen Victoria in 1858...
. It was protected by law there (along with Rhododendron macrophyllum
Rhododendron macrophyllum
Rhododendron macrophyllum, the Pacific Rhododendron, Coast Rhododendron or Big Leaf Rhododendron, is a broadleaf evergreen rhododendron species native to western North America.-Distribution:...
and Trillium ovatum
Trillium ovatum
Trillium ovatum, the Western Wake Robin, Pacific Trillium, or Western White Trillium, is a member of the Trilliaceae family, or sometimes included within the Liliaceae or Melanthiaceae. It occurs in parts of the western United States and western Canada, usually in rich forest...
in the same act), but the protection was repealed in 2002.
Students who graduated from a BC High School curriculum program are awarded the "Dogwood Diploma" from the Ministry of Education (Officially, British Columbia Certificate of Graduation).