Pacific dogwood

Cornus nuttallii

''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.
The Showy Bracts! The actual flowers of Cornus nuttallii are actually very small and are clustered in the center of the prominent white bracts. From E-Flora BC, “Flowers: Inflorescence of numerous, unstalked, hemispheric clusters 1.5-2 cm wide, subtended by 4-7 conspicuous white or pinkish-tinged, large (2-7 cm long) showy bracts, flowering in spring and often again in the fall; petals greenish-white, usually purplish-tinged.” Canada,Cornus nuttallii,Geotagged,Pacific dogwood,Spring

Appearance

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 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.
Looking Skyward. The flower of the Pacific Dogwood is the provincial flower of B.C. and the plant was protected by law in the province until 2002. Canada,Cornus nuttallii,Geotagged,Pacific dogwood,Spring

Naming

''Cornus nuttallii'' is named after Thomas Nuttall, an English botanist and zoologist who worked in North America in the nineteenth century.
The Pacific Dogwood On Cortes Island we are at the northern habitat range for this tree. Large specimens are found in gardens. Unfortunately the plant is susceptible to a fungus which has destroyed larger wild specimens particularly this far north. Canada,Cornus nuttallii,Geotagged,Pacific dogwood,Spring

Predators

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.
Pacific Dogwood Cornus nuttallii,Geotagged,Pacific dogwood,Spring,United States

Uses

Some Plateau Indian tribes used the bark as a laxative and emetic.

References:

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Taxonomy
KingdomPlantae
DivisionAngiosperms
ClassEudicots
OrderCornales
FamilyCornaceae
GenusCornus
SpeciesC. nuttallii
Photographed in
Canada
United States of America