DOGWOOD
We have a native species and at least one intriduced species.
DOGWOOD: Cornus sanguinea
This is our native species. Below you will find the Siberian Dogwood for comparison.
Also see bird cherry tree : index.asp?pageid=732577
In spring this tree produces sprays of creamy, almost white flowers. These have four elongated petals in the shape of a cross.
By July these have transformed into dark blue-black berries with a slightly slivery dusty sheen. They look much like blaeberries. For some time they retain something of their flower stalks protruding from their outer ends. The main stalks are red to cream.
The leaves are strongly veined.
This example is within the Lomond Industrial Estate. Leaves of other plants can be seen amongst those of the dogwood.
It is mid-August and the berries are fully ripe.
This tree is still producing new flowers while the berries are maturing.
The attractive flowers form crosses of four petals.
As we enter October the leaves are thinning out and the black berries are all the more conspicuous.
SIBERIAN DOGWOOD : Cornus alba
Also known as red-barked or white dogwood.
In spite of its botanical name, this is an introduced species and is included here for comparison with our native one. Alba in this instance is the Latin for "white".
It is very similar to our native dogwood, but has two obvious constrasting features. Its stalks are very red and are most conspicuous in winter when the leaves fall. Its berries are white.
As Wikipedia notes : Cornus alba, the red-barked, white or Siberian dogwood, is a species of flowering plant in the family Cornaceae, native to Siberia, northern China and Korea.
The berries may start off small and dark, but are white when fully developed. Lomond Industrial Estate. July.
WIKPEDIA : https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cornus_alba
WOODLAND TRUST : https://www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/trees-woods-and-wildlife/british-trees/a-z-of-british-trees/dogwood/
