Gray Dogwood
Cornus racemosa · Cornaceae (Dogwood family)
AI-generated identification · may be incorrect
Leaf Morphology
Leaf Type
Simple, deciduous
Shape
Lanceolate to ovate with an acuminate (tapering to a fine point) tip
Margin
Entire (smooth edges)
Arrangement
Opposite
Venation
Camptodromous pinnate venation, where secondary veins curve upward and parallel toward the margin, strongly characteristic of the Cornus genus
Key Features
Opposite, simple leaves with entire margins, arcuate (curved) venation that follows the leaf shape, grayish twigs, and white berries on red pedicels
Description
Gray dogwood is a multi-stemmed, suckering shrub typically growing 10 to 15 feet tall. It features distinctive gray bark on mature stems, reddish twigs on new growth, clusters of white flowers in early summer, and distinctive white berries born on contrasting bright red stalks in autumn.
Habitat
Thickets, borders of woods, wet or dry soils, often forming large colonies along roadsides and forest edges
Native Range
Native to eastern and central North America, ranging from southern Ontario and Quebec south to Georgia, and west to Oklahoma