Other common dogwoods there are - shrubs from three to ten feet in height - which bear flat clusters of small white flowers without the showy petal-like bracts, imitating a corolla, as in the two preceding species, but each little four-parted blossom attracting its miscellaneous crowd of benefactors by association with dozens of its counterparts in a showy cyme.Because these flowers expand farther than the minute florets of the dwarf cornel or the flowering dogwood, and the sweets are therefore more accessible, all the insects which fertilize them come to the shrub dogwoods too, and in addition very many beetles, to which their odor seems especially attractive.("Odore carabico o scarabeo" - Delpino.) The ROUND-LEAVED CORNEL or DOGWOOD [now ROUNDLEAF DOGWOOD] (C.circinata), found on shady hillsides, in open woodlands, and roadside thickets - especially in rocky districts - from Nova Scotia to Virginia, and westward to Iowa, may be known by its greenish, warty twigs; its broadly ovate, or round petioled, opposite leaves, short-tapering to a point, and downy beneath; and, in May and June, by its small, flat, white flower-clusters about two inches across, that are followed by light-blue (not edible) berries.
Even more abundant is the SILKY CORNEL, KINNIKINNICK, or SWAMPDOGWOOD [now SILKY DOGWOOD] (C.amonum; C.sericca of Gray) found in low, wet ground, and beside streams, from Nebraska to the Atlantic Ocean, south to Florida and north to New Brunswick.Its dull-reddish twigs, oval or oblong leaves, rounded at the base but tapering to a point at the apex, and usually silky-downy with fine, brownish hairs underneath (to prevent the pores from clogging with vapors arising from its damp habitat); its rather compact, flat clusters of white flowers from May to July, and its bluish berries are its distinguishing features.The Indians loved to smoke its bark for its alleged tonic effect.
The RED-OSIER CORNEL or DOGWOOD (C.stolonifera), which has spread, with the help of running shoots, through the soft soil of its moist retreats, over the British Possessions north of us and throughout the United States from ocean to ocean, except at the extreme south, may be known by its bright purplish-red twigs; its opposite, slender, petioled leaves, rather abruptly pointed at the apex, roughish on both sides, but white or nearly so beneath;its small, flat-topped white flower-clusters in June or July; and finally, by its white or lead-colored fruit.
In good, rich, moist soil another white-fruited species, the PANICLED CORNEL or DOGWOOD (C.candidissima; C.paniculata of Gray) rears its much-branched, smooth, gray stems.In May or June the shrub is beautiful with numerous convex, loose clusters of white flowers at the ends of the twigs.So far do the stamens diverge from the pistil that self-pollination is not likely; but an especially large number of the less specialized insects, seeking the freely exposed nectar, do all the necessary work as they crawl about and fly from shrub to shrub.This species bears comparatively long and narrow leaves, pale underneath.Its range is from Maine to the Carolinas and westward to Nebraska.
WHITE ALDER; SWEET PEPPERBUSH; ALDER-LEAVED CLETHRA(Clethra alnifolia) White Alder family Flowers - Very fragrant, white, about 1/3 in.across, borne in long, narrow, upright, clustered spikes, with awl-shaped bracts.
Calyx of 5 sepals; 5 longer petals; 10 protruding stamens, the style longest.Stem: A much-branched shrub, 3 to 10 ft.high.
Leaves: Alternate, oblong or ovate, finely saw-edged above the middle at least, green on both sides, tapering at base into short petioles.
Preferred Habitat - Low, wet woodland and roadside thickets;swamps; beside slow streams; meadows.
Flowering Season - July-August.
Distribution - Chiefly near the coast, in States bordering the Atlantic Ocean.
Like many another neglected native plant, the beautiful sweet pepperbush improves under cultivation; and when the departed lilacs, syringa, snowball, and blossoming almond, found with almost monotonous frequency in every American garden, leave a blank in the shrubbery at midsummer, these fleecy white spikes should exhale their spicy breath about our homes.But wild flowers, like a prophet, may remain long without honor in their own country.This and a similar but more hairy species found in the Alleghany region, the MOUNTAIN SWEET PEPPERBUSH (C.
acuminata), with pointed leaves, pale beneath, and spreading or drooping flower-spikes, go abroad to be appreciated.Planted beside lakes and streams on noblemen's estates, how overpowering must their fragrance be in the heavy, moisture-laden air of England! Even in our drier atmosphere, it hangs about the thickets like incense.
ROUND-LEAVED PYROLA; PEAR-LEAVED, or FALSE WINTERGREEN; INDIAN or CANKER LETTUCE(Pyrola rolundifolia) Wintergreen family Flowers - Very fragrant, white, in a spike; 6 to 20, nodding from an erect, bracted scape 6 to 20 in.high.Calyx 5-parted corolla, over 1/2 in.across, of 5 concave, obtuse petals 10 stamens, protruding pistil, style curved, stigma 5-lobed.Leaves: All spreading from the base by margined petioles; shining leathery green, round or broadly oval, obtuse, 1 1/2 to 3 in.long, persistent through the winter.
Preferred Habitat - Open woods.
Flowering Season - June-July.
Distribution - Nova Scotia to Georgia, west to Ohio and Minnesota.