Introductory
SPECIES: Cornus sericea | Red-Osier Dogwood 



ABBREVIATION : 
CORSER

SYNONYMS : 
   Cornus stolonifera
   Cornus alba var. occidentalis
   Cornus occidentalis
   Cornus alba var. baileyi
   Cornus alba var. californica
   Cornus alba var. interior
   Cornus alba var. coloradense
   Cornus baileyi
   Cornus instolonea
   Cornus interior
   Cornus sanguinea
   Svida stolonifera
   Cornus pubescens
   Cornus californica
   Suida interior
   Ossea interior
   Suida stolonifera var. riparia
   Cornus instoloneus
   Cornus nelsoni
   Cornus amomum


SCS PLANT CODE : 
   COST4


COMMON NAMES : 
   red-osier dogwood
   western dogwood
   American dogwood
   redstem dogwood
   red dogwood 
   kinnikinnik
   squawbush
   creek dogwood
   California dogwood
   red-stemmed cornel
   redbrush
   gutter tree
   red willow
   harts rouges
   poison dogwood
   shoemack
   waxberry cornel
   dogberry tree
   redosier dogwood


TAXONOMY : 
The currently accepted scientific name of red-osier dogwood is Cornus
sericea L.  Although the name "Cornus stolonifera Michx." is in wide
current use [45,60] and the merits of both names have been debated
[40,112], a recent, extensive review of work with the genus gives the
correct name as C. sericea [34].

The discussion of how closely related forms in the Cornaceae should be
segregated has gone on for years and is summarized by Eyde [33,34] and
Ferguson [36,37].  Two main groups within Cornus are red-line dogwoods,
with showy bracts below the flowers and red fruit, and blue-line
dogwoods, without bracts and blue or white fruit [34].  Other authors
have placed the bractless dogwoods, including red-osier dogwood, in a
separate genus called Thleycrania, Ossea, or Svida (originally Swjda,
also spelled Swida and Suida) [33,36,37].  Red-osier dogwood is very
widespread and variable; thus similar populations have been considered
variously as separate but interbreeding species, subspecies, and
varieties [40,60,69].

Recognized subspecies of Cornus sericea are as follows [69]:
  
     ssp.  occidentalis
     ssp.  sericea

The two subspecies interbreed quite freely and C. X californica is the
name given resultant plants.  C. X acadiensis is a hybrid of C. sericea
and C. alternifolia [112].  C. X slavini is a hybrid of C. sericea and
C. rugosa [143].  There are relatively slight differences between the
two subspecies and this paper considers the entire complex as red-osier
dogwood.


LIFE FORM : 
Tree, Shrub

FEDERAL LEGAL STATUS : 
No special status

OTHER STATUS : 
NO-ENTRY


COMPILED BY AND DATE : 
M. F. Crane, August 1989


LAST REVISED BY AND DATE : 
NO-ENTRY


AUTHORSHIP AND CITATION : 
Crane, M. F. 1989. Cornus sericea. In: Remainder of Citation

Related categories for Species: Cornus sericea | Red-Osier Dogwood