Cornus canadensis
Cornus canadensis
Cornus canadensis (pronunciation: /ˈkɔːrnəs kænəˈdɛnsɪs/), commonly known as Bunchberry, is a species of flowering plant in the Cornaceae family.
Etymology
The genus name Cornus is derived from the Latin word 'cornu' which means 'horn', referring to the hardness of the wood. The species name canadensis is Latin for 'of Canada', indicating the plant's native range.
Description
Cornus canadensis is a slow-growing herbaceous subshrub growing 10–20 cm tall, generally forming a carpet-like mat. The above-ground shoots rise from slender creeping rhizomes that are placed 2.5–7.5 cm deep in the soil, and form clonal colonies under trees. The vertically produced above-ground stems are slender and unbranched. The leaves are oppositely arranged on the stem, but are clustered with six leaves that often seem to be in a whorl because the internodes are compressed. The leafy green leaves are produced near the terminal node and consist of two types: 2 larger and 4 smaller leaves. The smaller leaves develop from the axillary buds of the larger leaves. The shiny dark green leaves have 2 to 3 mm long petioles and leaf blades that are obovate. The blades have entire margins and are 3.5 to 4.8 cm long and 1.5 to 2.5 cm wide, with 2 or 3 veins and cuneate shaped bases and abruptly acuminate apexes. In the fall, the leaves have red tinted veins and turn completely red.
Distribution and habitat
Cornus canadensis is native to cool temperate and subarctic regions of North America, extending south at high altitudes to northern California and North Carolina. It grows in moist, well-drained soils in forested areas.
Related terms
- Cornaceae: The family to which Cornus canadensis belongs.
- Subshrub: A small, low-growing shrub, typically under 0.5 m tall.
- Rhizome: A continuously growing horizontal underground stem that puts out lateral shoots and adventitious roots at intervals.
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Cornus canadensis
- Wikipedia's article - Cornus canadensis
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