Cornaceae

Common Dogwood (Cornus sanguinea )

The Dogwood ( Cornaceae ) are a family in the order dogwood -like ( Cornales ) within the angiosperms ( Magnoliopsida ).

Description

Most species are trees or shrubs with simple, opposite or alternate arranged leaves. However, the Canadian dogwood is an evergreen herbaceous plant in the genus Alangium also lianas occur. The flowers of the Dogwood are small and are formed in branched, terminal inflorescences, which are sometimes surrounded by showy bracts.

The species of the order dogwood -like ( Cornales ) vary greatly in their flower structure: Most, however, the flowers are small, and four to five, reduced in size sepals form an intergrown with the ovary tube. Often found on the upper part of the ovary, a nectar producing slice. In general, the flowers have four to five non- deformed petals, which can also be completely absent.

Dissemination

Dogwood are distributed mainly in the temperate zones of the northern hemisphere. Some species are native in tropical South America and Africa.

System

The Dogwood are the eponymous family of the order Dogwood Family ( Cornales ). It now consists of two subfamilies:

• Finite Cornoideae: This subfamily contains only two genera with about 85 species. They appear mainly in the temperate zones, or in mountain areas of the tropics and subtropics: Alangium Lam. With about 21 species.
• Dogwood (Cornus L.): With about 60 species.

• Camptotheca Decne. Using only one type: Camptotheca acuminata Decne. ; it occurs in China.

• Handkerchief tree ( Davidia involucrata Baill. ); it occurs in southwestern China.

Use

The economic importance of the family mainly concerns their use as ornamental trees: Dogwood be because of the attractive appearance of flowers and fruits as well as cultivated because of the colorful autumn foliage. The wood of some species is also used in furniture manufacturing use. The Cornelian cherry is found in many places in Europe in forests and thickets, it is a popular hedge plant. Your red fruits are edible, in France they are used for the production of an alcoholic beverage, the vin de courneille. The Red Dogwood - its foliage turns red in autumn - forms black fruits that are dispersed by birds; he comes as undergrowth before in open woods. Obtained from the fruits of oil is used in France for the production of soap.

Swell

• The Cornaceae family in APWebsite. ( Section systematics and description)