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Northeast Wetland Flora

Field Office Guide to Plant Species

Canada Bunchberry
Cornus canadensis L.

JPG -- Species Photo JPG -- Distribution Map

Family: Dogwood (Cornaceae)
Flowering: May-July
Field Marks: This species is distinguished by its apparently whorled leaves at the base of the inflorescence and its 4 white bracts up to 1 inch long that subtend the cluster of flowers. The spherical or ellipsoid drupes are bright red.
Habitat: Moist woods.
Habit: Perennial herb with a woody base from slender rhizomes.
Stems: Upright, unbranched, woody at base, smooth, up to 10 inches tall.
Leaves: Lowermost opposite, reduced, oblanceolate, the uppermost appearing to be whorled with each leaf ovate to ovate-oblong, pointed at the tip, tapering to the base, pinnately veined, without teeth, smooth, up to 4 inches long; leaf stalk about 1/10 inch long.
Flowers: Sessile in a crowded cluster subtended by 4 bracts and borne on a stalk up to 1 1/2 inches long; bracts white, petal-like, ovate, up to 1 inch long.
Sepals: 4, united below, green, minute.
Petals: 4, free from each other, oblong, greenish white, up to 1/4 inch long.
Stamens: 4.
Pistils: Ovary inferior; style 1.
Fruits: Drupes nearly spherical or ellipsoid, up to 1/3 inch in diameter, bright red.
Notes: The leaves are deciduous but the short stem and the red fruits are persistent throughout the winter.

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URL: http://www.npwrc.usgs.gov/resource/plants/florane/species/7/corncana.htm
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Page Last Modified: Thursday, 03-Aug-2006 11:39:25 EDT
Sioux Falls, SD [sdww54]