Uses
Toxic parts
Edible uses
Notes
Unknown part
Material uses
The peeled twigs are used as toothbrushes, they are good for whitening the teeth[3][5][6]. The juice from the twigs preserves and hardens the gums[3]. The twigs can also be chewed to make natural paintbrushes[6]. A black ink can be made from the bark mixed with gum arabic and iron sulphate[3]. The bark is very bitter, could it be used to make an insect or bird repellent[K]?
Wood - hard, heavy, strong, close grained, durable, takes a good polish and is extremely shock-resistant. It weighs 51lb per cubic foot and is used for making wheel hubs, tool handles, the heads of golf clubs, bearings, turnery etc[3][7][8][9][6][10][11].Medicinal uses(Warning!)
The dried root-bark is antiperiodic, astringent, diaphoretic, mildly stimulant and tonic[3][7][8][5][12]. The flowers are said to have similar properties[3]. A tea or tincture of the astringent root bark has been used as a quinine substitute to treat malaria[5][13][12] and also in the treatment of chronic diarrhoea[13]. The bark has also been used as a poultice on external ulcers, wounds etc[13][12]. The glycoside 'cornin' found in the bark has astringent properties[14]. The inner bark was boiled and the tea drunk to reduce fevers and to restore a lost voice[14][12]. A compound infusion of the bark and the root has been used in the treatment of various childhood diseases such as measles and worms[12]. It was often used in the form of a bath[12].
The fruits are used as a bitter digestive tonic[13]. A tincture of them has been used to restore tone to the stomach in cases of alcoholism[3].Unknown part
Ecology
Ecosystem niche/layer
Ecological Functions
Nothing listed.
Forage
Nothing listed.
Shelter
Nothing listed.
Propagation
Cuttings of half-ripe side shoots, July/August in a frame[18]. Cuttings of mature wood of the current year's growth, taken with a heel if possible, autumn in a cold frame. High percentage[19].
Layering of new growth in June/July. Takes 9 months[19].Practical Plants is currently lacking information on propagation instructions of Cornus florida. Help us fill in the blanks! Edit this page to add your knowledge.
Cultivation
Plants are very hardy, tolerating temperatures down to about -25°c. but they are subject to damage by late frosts and are rarely successful away from the warmer counties of Britain[25][21]. They require a long hot humid summer if they are to grow well, doing best in the east or south-east of Britain[23][21] in areas that are not subject to late or early frosts. They do not generally do very well in the south-west, where the flower bracts are often damaged by frosts[21]. Medium to fast growing when young, but slowing with age[24]. Trees are short-lived[1]. A very ornamental plant, there are many named varieties[21][24]. It is the state flower of Virginia[26].
Plants in this genus are notably resistant to honey fungus[21].Crops
Problems, pests & diseases
Associations & Interactions
There are no interactions listed for Cornus florida. Do you know of an interaction that should be listed here? edit this page to add it.
Polycultures & Guilds
There are no polycultures listed which include Cornus florida.
Descendants
Cultivars
Varieties
None listed.
Subspecies
None listed.
Full Data
This table shows all the data stored for this plant.
References
- ? 1.01.11.21.31.4 Elias. T. The Complete Trees of N. America. Field Guide and Natural History. Van Nostrand Reinhold Co. ISBN 0442238622 (1980-00-00)
- ? 2.02.12.2 Lauriault. J. Identification Guide to the Trees of Canada Fitzhenry and Whiteside, Ontario. ISBN 0889025649 (1989-00-00)
- ? 3.003.013.023.033.043.053.063.073.083.093.103.11 Grieve. A Modern Herbal. Penguin ISBN 0-14-046-440-9 (1984-00-00)
- ? 4.04.1 Diggs, Jnr. G.M.; Lipscomb. B. L. & O'Kennon. R. J [Illustrated Flora of North Central Texas] Botanical Research Institute, Texas. (1999-00-00)
- ? 5.05.15.25.35.45.5 Saunders. C. F. Edible and Useful Wild Plants of the United States and Canada. Dover Publications ISBN 0-486-23310-3 (1976-00-00)
- ? 6.06.16.26.3 Kavasch. B. Native Harvests. Vintage Books ISBN 0-394-72811-4 (1979-00-00)
- ? 7.07.17.27.3 Uphof. J. C. Th. Dictionary of Economic Plants. Weinheim (1959-00-00)
- ? 8.08.18.28.3 Usher. G. A Dictionary of Plants Used by Man. Constable ISBN 0094579202 (1974-00-00)
- ? 9.09.1 Sargent. C. S. Manual of the Trees of N. America. Dover Publications Inc. New York. ISBN 0-486-20278-X (1965-00-00)
- ? 10.010.1 Hill. A. F. Economic Botany. The Maple Press (1952-00-00)
- ? 11.011.1 Vines. R.A. Trees of North Texas University of Texas Press. ISBN 0292780206 (1982-00-00)
- ? 12.012.112.212.312.412.512.612.7 Moerman. D. Native American Ethnobotany Timber Press. Oregon. ISBN 0-88192-453-9 (1998-00-00)
- ? 13.013.113.213.313.4 Foster. S. & Duke. J. A. A Field Guide to Medicinal Plants. Eastern and Central N. America. Houghton Mifflin Co. ISBN 0395467225 (1990-00-00)
- ? 14.014.114.2 Weiner. M. A. Earth Medicine, Earth Food. Ballantine Books ISBN 0-449-90589-6 (1980-00-00)
- ? 15.015.115.2 McMillan-Browse. P. Hardy Woody Plants from Seed. Grower Books ISBN 0-901361-21-6 (1985-00-00)
- ? Dirr. M. A. and Heuser. M. W. The Reference Manual of Woody Plant Propagation. Athens Ga. Varsity Press ISBN 0942375009 (1987-00-00)
- ? 17.017.117.217.3 Bird. R. (Editor) Growing from Seed. Volume 4. Thompson and Morgan. (1990-00-00)
- ? 18.018.1 Brickell. C. The RHS Gardener's Encyclopedia of Plants and Flowers Dorling Kindersley Publishers Ltd. ISBN 0-86318-386-7 (1990-00-00)
- ? 19.019.1 Sheat. W. G. Propagation of Trees, Shrubs and Conifers. MacMillan and Co (1948-00-00)
- ? F. Chittendon. RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956 Oxford University Press (1951-00-00)
- ? 21.021.121.221.321.421.521.6 Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press ISBN 0-333-47494-5 (1992-00-00)
- ? 22.022.1 Gordon. A. G. and Rowe. D. C. f. Seed Manual for Ornamental Trees and Shrubs. ()
- ? 23.023.1 Thomas. G. S. Ornamental Shrubs, Climbers and Bamboos. Murray ISBN 0-7195-5043-2 (1992-00-00)
- ? 24.024.124.224.3 Davis. B. Climbers and Wall Shrubs. Viking. ISBN 0-670-82929-3 (1990-00-00)
- ? 25.025.1 Bean. W. Trees and Shrubs Hardy in Great Britain. Vol 1 - 4 and Supplement. Murray (1981-00-00)
- ? Craighead. J., Craighead. F. and Davis. R. A Field Guide to Rocky Mountain Wildflowers The Riverside Press ISBN 63-7093 (1963-00-00)
- ? Fernald. M. L. Gray's Manual of Botany. American Book Co. (1950-00-00)
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