CORNUS, CORNEL-TREE, CORNELIAN CHERRY,
or DOG-WOOD; a genus of the monogynia order, be-
longing to the tetandria class of plants.
Species. Of this genus there are five species; the
most remarkable are the following. 1. The mas, or
cornelian cherry-tree, hath an upright tree-stem, rising
20 feet high, branching, and forming a large head,
garnished with oblong leaves, and small umbels of
yellowish-green flowers at the sides and ends of the
branches, appearing early in the spring, and succeeded
by small, red, cherry-like, eatable, acid, fruit.
2. The sanguinea, bloody-twig, or common dog-
wood; hath an upright tree-stem, branching 10 or 12
feet high, having blood-red shoots, garnished with ob-
long pointed nervous leaves two inches long; and all
the branches terminated by umbellate white flowers
succeeded by black berries, of this there is a kind with
variegated leaves. 3. The florida, or Virginian
dog-wood, hath a tree-stem branching 12 or 15 feet
high, and fine red shoots garnished with large heart-
shaped leaves; and the branches terminated by um-
bellate white flowers, having a large involucre suc-
ceeded by dark red berries. Of this species there are
several varieties, chiefly distinguished by the colour of
their berries, which are red, white, or blue.
Culture. All the species may be propagated by
seeds, which ought to be sown in autumn, otherwise
they will lie a year in the ground. When the plants
come up, they should be duly watered in dry wea-
ther, and kept clean from weeds. The following au-
tumn they may be transplanted into the nursery; and
having remained there two or three years, they may
then be removed to the places where they are to re-
main. They may also be propagated by suckers, of
which they produce great plenty, or by laying down
the young branches.