Flowering Dogwood

Description:

Dogwoods have simple, untoothed leaves with the veins curving distinctively as they approach the leaf margins. Most dogwood species have opposite leaves. Dogwood flowers have four parts. In many species, the flowers are borne separately in open (but often dense) clusters, while in various other species (such as the flowering dogwood), the flowers themselves are tightly clustered, lacking showy petals, but surrounded by four to six large, typically white petal-like bracts. The fruits of all dogwood species are drupes with one or two seeds, often brightly colorful. Dogwoods are used as food plants by the larvae of some species of butterflies and moths, including the Emperor moth.

Habitat:

dogwood grows in the well-drained, light upland soils to deep, moist soils along streams and lower slopes.

Notes:

Dogwoods are widely planted horticulturally, and the dense wood of the larger-stemmed species is valued for certain specialized purposes.