Cornus sericea var. occidentalis (syn: Cornus stolonifera)
Western Dogwood

Family: Cornaceae (Dogwood family)

Photo taken at Leavenworth Fish Hatchery, wooded riparian area (20 meters from Icicle River)

Cornus sericea
Cornus sericea

Flowers:

cymose; inflorescence not conspicuously bracteate; 4 petals 3-4 mm; sepals 4, more or less fused at the base


Drupe:

2 seeded, usually white, 7-9 mm

Leaves:

Deciduous; opposite; with prominent veins


Plant:

woody perennial; many stemmed; 2-6 meters tall. The berries were eaten by the Thompson, Okanagon, Sanpoil and Nespelem, Spokan, and Nitinaht. The leaves were dried and smoked by the Thompson, Hoh, and Quilute.

Habitat:

riparian areas and moist woods

Distribution of species:

Alaska to Southern California, east to Idaho and Nevada, occasionally in Montana


Distribution of genus:

more or less 50 species: northern temperate, rarely in southern hemisphere