Cornus alternifolia L.

(Photo By UGA Herbarium)
Stephanie Kaye Greene


--> C.alternifolia is also known as the Alternate-leaf Dogwood, Green-Osier, Pagoda Dogwood, American Dogwood, and Knob-style Dogwood (Vaucher 1996).


--> Higher Taxa for C. florida (Jones, 1979):
-----------> Division -- Magnoliophyta
-----------> Class -- Magnoliopsida
-----------> Subclass -- Magnoliidae
-----------> Order -- Cornales
-----------> Family -- Cornaceae
-----------> Genus -- Cornus


--> Linnaeus originally described C.alternifolia. The Index Kewensis gives a reference to Linnaeus¹ description (Linn. f. Suppl.124 - Am.bor), but I was unable to locate the original document (Jackson,1895). The UGA Herbarium contains a specimen of C.alternifolia. This species is described within an identification key by Radford, Ahles, and Bell (1968):

--> Shrub or small tree, the pith of 2 year old stems white. Leaves alternate (often more easily determined by the branch pattern as the leaves are usually crowded at the end of the twig) elliptic to ovate-lanceolate, 4-8 cm or more long, 2.5-5 cm wide, glabrescent above, pubescent beneath, appearing before the flowers. Cymes open, flattened or hemispheric, without subtending bracts. Drupes blue, globose, 4-7 mm in diam.

--> The alternate leaves and long petioles are distinctive for C. alternifolia (Brown, 1990).

--> C.alternifolia is found in the Eastern United States, but not as commonly as C. florida. Following is a table containing an overview of the species distribution.



AREA STATUS REFERENCES
North America: Continental United States; Canada Yes Brown, 1990
Eastern North America: United States east of Mississippi; Ontario and eastern Canada Yes Brown, 1990
Southeastern United States: AL AR DE DC FL GA KY MD NC SC TN VA WV Yes Brown, 1990
Southern Appalachian States: AL GA KY MD NC SC TN VA WV Yes Brown, 1990
Coastal Plain Marginal Brown, 1990
Piedmont Marginal Brown, 1990
Blue Ridge Mountains Yes Brown, 1990
Great Smoky Mountains National Park ? -->
Ridge and Valley Yes Brown, 1990
Cumberland Plateau Yes Brown, 1990
Central Arch Yes Brown, 1990
Georgia Yes Brown, 1990
Clarke County, Georgia Yes UGA Herbarium Specimen
Sams Farm ? -->
--> Old Field ? -->
--> Wetland ? -->
--> Woods ? -->
--> 1-Hectare Plot ? -->

--> The Alternate-leaf Dogwood is probably not at Sam¹s Farm because it is marginal to the very northern Piedmont Region (Brown, 1990). It is an understory plant found in broadleaf or coniferous woods with moist to dry habitats (Duncan, 1988). C. alternifolia has unique flowers, but is not commonly planted as an ornamental. The bluish fruit of this American Dogwood appears in autumn which may be eaten by birds (aiding in seed dispersal). The dandelion-like flowers bloom in the spring along with the new deciduous leaves.

--> Approaching C. alternifolia could be easily accomplished if spotted. It does not propose any harmful deterrents, unless of course you want to combat birds for its recognizably blue fruit.

References