Blood twig dogwood (Cornus sanguinea)
Description
Cornus sanguinea, the common dogwood, is a species of dogwood native to most of Europe and western Asia, from England and central Scotland east to the Caspian Sea. It is widely grown as an ornamental plant. It is a medium to large deciduous shrub, growing 2-6 metres (7-20 ft) tall, with dark greenish-brown branches and twigs. The leaves are opposite, 4-8 centimetres (2-3 in) long and 2-4 centimetres (0.8-1.6 in) broad, with an ovate to oblong shape and an entire margin; they are green above, slightly paler below, and rough with short stiff pubescence.:509 The hermaphrodite flowers are small, 5-10 millimetres (0.2-0.4 in) diameter, with four creamy white petals, produced in clusters 3-5 centimetres (1-2 in) diameter, and are insect pollinated. The fruit is a globose black berry 5-8 millimetres (0.2-0.3 in) diameter, containing a single seed.The berries are sometimes called "dogberries". It prefers moderate warmth in sunny places, though it can tolerate shade and in the more southern areas of its distribution area grows in the mountains. In cooler areas such as Scandinavia it grows at sea level. It requires light, often alkaline soils. The species spreads by seeds and stolons. Its natural range covers most of Europe and western Asia. It is especially abundant in riversides, especially in shady areas and ravines. It grows in the margins of forests or unforested areas as woods in regeneration, prickly woodland fringes, with other thorny shrub species (for example, Clematis vitalba, Crataegus monogyna, Malus sylvestris, Prunus spinosa, Rubus idaeus or Rubus ulmifolius). It reproduces by seed and root sprouts, which makes it effective at occupying areas of land and forming dense groves. Depending on circumstances, it can be invasive.
Taxonomic tree
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Domain: Eukarya
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Kingdom: Plantae
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Phylum: Magnoliophyta
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Class: Magnoliopsida
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Order: Cornales
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Family: Cornaceae
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Genus: Cornus
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