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Cornus racemosa - (image 1 of 4)

Taxonomy

Family: Cornaceae

Plants with blue fruit have been called Cornus foemina, though these are probably more appropriately applied to the southern Cornus stricta Lam.

Habitat

Open woodlands, woodland borders, wet prairies. Increases in number with disturbance.

Associates

Corylus americana, Fragaria virginiana, Fraxinus americana, Galium aparine, Geranium maculatum, Osmorhiza claytonii, Parthenocissus quinquefolia, Podophyllum peltatum, Potentilla simplex, Prunus serotina, Quercus alba, Quercus macrocarpa, Quercus rubra, Rhus radicans, Sanicula gregaria, Smilacina racemosa, Tilia americana, Viburnum lentago, Vitis riparia.

Distribution

ME and southern Quebec west to southern Manitoba, south to VA, southern IL, and MO.

Morphology

Thicket-forming shrub to 5 m; twigs of current year's growth glabrous or glabrate; young twigs normally gray; pith white (sometimes tan). Leaves smooth, opposite, with fewer than 5 pairs of lateral veins. Flowers small, white, in open cymes. Fruits white, sometimes light blue.    

Notes

Flowers late May to early July

Wetland indicator: Facultative Wetland -

This shrub is sometimes a problem for stewards of prairies where it forms persistent thickets in wet depressions.

References

Dirr, Michael A. 1998. Manual of Woody Landscape Plants: Their Identification, Ornamental Characteristics, Culture, Propagation and Uses.
5th ed. Champaign, Illiois: Stipes Publishing L.L.C.

Gleason, Henry A. and A. Cronquist. 1991. Manual of Vascular Plants of Northeastern United States and Adjacent Canada. Second Ed.
The New York Botanical Garden. Bronx, NY

Swink, F. and G. Wilhelm. 1994. Plants of the Chicago Region.
Indiana Academy of Science. The Morton Arboretum. Lisle, Illinois.

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