Flower ID: IMG_0650.JPG-06-06-2017 Flower name (scientific): Cornus amomum Miller PY: 1768. Pronunciation guide: (phonetic spelling) KOR-nus ah-MOH-mum Flower name (common): Silky 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: Purifier, from Amomum, an Indian spice plant used medicinally. Common name origin: The term silky comes from the twigs and the lower leaf surfaces, that have a covering of hairs with a silky appearance. 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: 0.1 to 0.3 inches (0.3 to 0.8 cm) Petal count: 4 Color: white Other: flower arrangement, Cluster-cyme Plant description: Size: 36 to 120 inches (91 to 305 cm) Stem hairy: Other: Leaf description: attachment is opposite, type is simple Size: Leaves typically about 5 to 10 cm long and 1 to 6 cm wide. Color: Hairy: Other: Shape: leaf, broadly ovate (FNA) Origin (native, introduced, invasive): Native Status (common, uncommon, threatened, rare): Common Bloom time (typical): May to June Cycle (annual, biennial, perennial): Perennial Habitat: Woods, prairies, streambanks, sun or part shade, moist to wet. Fruit: Seed: Importance to wildlife: Similar species (if any): Cornus drummondii is similar, but there are just a small number of reported observations in three southern Wisconsin counties. Cornus drummondii has white berries while Cornus amomum has berries that are silvery-blue or blue with white blotches. Cornus foemina is also similar, but this spcies is not reported in Wisconsin, Minnesota, Michigan, and Iowa, but occurs in more southern mid-western states and eastern US states. Cornus sericea, which is widespread in Wiscosin, has similar flowers, but the berries are white. Ethnobotany: The Menominee employed this species to prepare an antidiarrheal. They also used the inner bark as smoking tobacco (Smith, pp. 32, 80, 1923). Latitude: Longitude: Altitude: Distribution: In Wisconsin: (Adams, Ashland, Bayfield, Brown, Buffalo, Burnett, Calumet, Chippewa, Clark, Columbia, Crawford, Dane, Dodge, Door, Dunn, Eau Claire, Fond du Lac, Grant, Green, Iowa, Jackson, Jefferson, Juneau, Kenosha, Kewaunee, La Crosse, Lafayette, Langlade, Lincoln, Manitowoc, Marathon, Marinette, Marquette, Milwaukee, Oconto, Oneida, Outagamie, Ozaukee, Pepin, Polk, Portage, Price, Racine, Richland, Rock, Sauk, Sawyer, Shawano, Sheboygan, Taylor, Trempealeau, Vernon, Walworth, Washington, Waukesha, Waupaca, Waushara, Winnebago, Wood) Click here for distribution map In US: (AL, CT, DC, DE, FL, GA, IA, IL, IN, KY, MA, MD, ME, MI, MO, MS, NC, NH, NJ, NY, OH, PA, RI, SC, TN, VA, VT, WV) In Canada: References: Synonym(s): Basionym: na Homotypic Synonym(s): Heterotypic Synonym(s): Autonym: na