Cornus foemina

Cornus foemina is considered a large shrub to a small tree. It can grow up to 8meters tall. The trunks of the plant grow up to 10centimeters in diameter. The stems grow in a clustered arrangement and have bark that is grey to black in coloration. The branchlets are a deep red color unless shaded, in which case they will be green to bronze. Multiple stems sprout from a single rootstock. Lenticels do not protrude from the trunk(s), but the bark tends to swell between the lenticils. The leaves have a petiole length of 5–16millimeters. The blade has a length of 3.5–11cm and a width of 1–6cm. The leaves have a shape of lanceolate, elliptic, or oblanceolate. Leaves are oppositely arranged, with usually 3–4veins per leaf side. The trichomes are appressed or slightly raised on lower surface of the leaf. Cornus foemina flowers from March to June. The flowers are creamy white, small, and with non-showy bracts that frequently fall off the flower. Due to the loose nature of the bracts, samples may appear bractless as they leave behind only a small scar. The fruits can vary in color from white to blue or purple, and they are globose drupes. White and blue fruits are considered a single morph, as they are blue when immature and white at maturity. The fruits are typically about 5mm in diameter. == Taxonomy ==

Cornus foemina was first described by botanist Philip Miller in 1768. Cornus foemina falls under the subgenus Kraniopsis, which is categorized as blue-fruiting, loose-bracted, and oppositely-arranged leaves. == Nomenclature ==

Synonyms of Cornus foemina are numerous, but this name has nomenclatural priority. Cornus foemina is unofficially considered a nomen dubium by scholars, and as such, in much of the literature, this species is referred to as either Cornus stricta or Swida foemina. == Distribution and habitat ==

Cornus foemina is found most readily in the southeastern United States, distributed on the southeastern coast and towards the Mississippi River. It is found primarily along the coastal plain from eastern Virginia to central Florida, west to Louisiana, and north to southeastern Missouri. Cornus foemina grows well in poorly drained soils. Individual plants have the capability to adapt to soil types from clay to sandy. Cornus foemina has a good tolerance to drought but is prone to physical injury. == Ecology ==

Cornus foemina provides a food source to many animals who reside in wet woodlands. White-tailed deer, cottontail rabbits, and beavers browse the leaves. The fruits are an important food source for birds, especially quail, catbirds, mockingbirds, American robins, and brown thrashers. The flowers are visited and pollinated by various insects including wasps and flies such as Mischocyttarus mexicanus cubicola, Eumenes fraternus and Copestylum sexmaculatum. Cornus foemina is a host to the following moth and fungi species: Phomopsis, Caloptilia burgessiella, Caloptilia burgessiella, Heterocampa guttivitta, Cecrita guttivitta, Sarcinella pulchra, and Sarcinella pulchra. == Human uses ==

Cornus foemina is a useful plant for many landscaping needs, including: rain gardens, drainage swales, areas prone to flooding, lake margins, and stream beds. It is used in these instances because it grows well in wet conditions, useful for erosion control, while not needing high levels of sunlight to thrive. == Conservation status ==

The conservation status of Cornus foemina is least concern on the IUCN Red List. ==References==