Flower ID: IMG_1723.JPG-06-04-2019 Flower name (scientific): Cornus alternifolia Linnaeus f. PY: 1782 (1781). Pronunciation guide: (phonetic spelling) KOR-nus al-ter-nih-FOH-lee-ah Flower name (common): Pagoda Dogwood Family name (common): Dogwood Family name (scientific): Cornaceae Scientific name origin: Genus: The Latin name for cornelian cherry Cornus mas. From the Latin cornu for horn, probably referring to the hard wood of the tree. Specific epithet: Having alternate leaves. Common name origin: Pagoda is used to refer to the tiered horizontal branching, with an allusion to the appearance of various temples. Dogwood is a compounding of dog + wood. The name is used for shrubs and trees for which the wood has a resemblance to that from Cornus sanguinea, called the common dogwood. Flower description: Size: 0.2 to 0.3 inches (0.5 to 0.8 cm) Petal count: 4 Color: white Other: flower arrangement, None Plant description: Size: 144 to 360 inches (3.7 to 9.1 m) Stem hairy: Other: Leaf description: attachment is alternate, type is simple Size: Leaves are about 5 to 12 cm long and about 3 to 7 cm wide. Color: Hairy: Other: Shape: leaf, narrowly to broadly ovate or obovate (FNA) Origin (native, introduced, invasive): Native Status (common, uncommon, threatened, rare): Common Bloom time (typical): May to June Cycle (annual, biennial, perennial): Perennial Habitat: Woodlands, thickets, sun or shade. Fruit: Seed: Importance to wildlife: Similar species (if any): The alternate leaves help distinguish this species from other Cornus species with similar flowers. The dark blue berries, when present, can also help to identify Cornus alternifolia. Ethnobotany: The Menominee employed this species to prepare an antidiarrheal and there is a reported case where a medicine prepared from this species and some other unidentified ingredient cured facial cancer. They also used the inner bark as smoking tobacco (Smith, pp. 32-33, 80, 1923). The Ojibwe used the inner bark to prepare an emetic. They also utilized the twigs for thatching and the boiled root as a lure for muskrat (Smith, pp. 366, 417, 429-430, 1932). The Potawatomi and the Chippewa used the bark to prepare an infusion which was employed as an eye-wash (Smith, pp. 50-51, 1933; Gilmore p. 138, 1933). Latitude: 44.797338 Longitude: -91.503510 Altitude: 252.10 Distribution: In Wisconsin: (Adams, Ashland, Barron, Bayfield, Brown, Buffalo, Calumet, Chippewa, Clark, Columbia, Crawford, Dane, Dodge, Door, Douglas, Dunn, Eau Claire, Florence, Fond du Lac, Forest, Grant, Green, Iowa, Iron, Jackson, Jefferson, Juneau, Kenosha, Kewaunee, La Crosse, Lafayette, Langlade, Lincoln, Manitowoc, Marathon, Marinette, Marquette, Menominee, Milwaukee, Oconto, Oneida, Outagamie, Ozaukee, Pepin, Pierce, Polk, Portage, Price, Racine, Richland, Rock, Rusk, Sauk, Sawyer, Shawano, Sheboygan, St. Croix, Taylor, Trempealeau, Vernon, Vilas, Walworth, Washburn, Washington, Waukesha, Waupaca, Waushara, Wood) Click here for distribution map In US: (AL, AR, CT, DE, FL, GA, IA, IL, IN, KY, MA, MD, ME, MI, MN, MO, MS, NC, NH, NJ, NY, OH, PA, RI, SC, TN, VA, VT, WI, WV) In Canada: (MB, NB, NF, NS, ON, PE, QC) References: Synonym(s): Basionym: na Homotypic Synonym(s): Heterotypic Synonym(s): Autonym: na