Cornus nuttallii, the Pacific dogwood, western dogwood, or mountain dogwood,
Description
left|thumb|The small flowers are in a dense cluster surrounded by large white bracts.
It is a small to medium-sized deciduous tree, reaching tall, often with a canopy spread of . Its habit varies based on the level of sunlight; in full sun it will have a short trunk with a crown as wide as it is tall, while under a canopy it will have a tapered trunk with a short, slender crown. The trunk attains in diameter. The bark is reddish brown.
The branches have fine hairs and the young bark is thin and smooth, becoming scale-like with ridges as it ages.
Similar species
The eastern United States' Cornus florida (flowering dogwood) is similar in appearance and possibly in chemical composition. Cornus canadensis has similar blossoms but grows as a groundcover. It was named nuttallii after him by his friend John James Audubon. and bears.
It is mostly prized as a cultivated ornamental. since 1956. It was once protected by law in the province (in an act which also protected Rhododendron macrophyllum and Trillium ovatum), but this was repealed in 2002.
References
External links
- Jepson Flora Project: Cornus nuttallii
- Plants of British Columbia: Cornus nuttallii
- Interactive Distribution Map of Cornus nuttallii