Cornus mas
Cornus mas
Cornus mas (pronounced: /ˈkɔːrnəs mæs/), also known as the Cornelian cherry, is a species of flowering plant in the dogwood family Cornaceae.
Etymology
The name "Cornus mas" is derived from the Latin words "cornu", meaning "horn", and "mas", meaning "male". This is in reference to the hardness of the wood, which is reminiscent of animal horns. The common name "Cornelian cherry" is due to the cherry-like appearance of its fruits.
Description
Cornus mas is a deciduous shrub or small tree that can reach a height of 5–12 m. The leaves are opposite, 4–10 cm long and 2–4 cm broad, with an ovate to oblong shape. The flowers are small, with four yellow petals, produced in clusters of 10–25 together in the late winter, well before the leaves appear. The fruit is an oblong red drupe 2 cm long and 1.5 cm in diameter, containing a single seed.
Cultivation and uses
Cornus mas is grown as an ornamental plant in gardens for its late winter flowers, which open earlier than those of Forsythia. The fruits, when ripe on the plant, bear a resemblance to coffee berries, and ripen in mid- to late summer. The fruit is edible, with a tart flavor, and can be used to make jams and jellies.
Related terms
- Cornaceae: The dogwood family, to which Cornus mas belongs.
- Drupe: A type of fruit in which an outer fleshy part surrounds a shell of hardened endocarp with a seed inside.
- Forsythia: A genus of flowering plants in the olive family, Oleaceae.
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Cornus mas
- Wikipedia's article - Cornus mas
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