Dogwoods ( Cornusspp . ) are a genus of deciduous trees most often grown for their flowers , which in the most popular cornel mintage are not substantial flowers , but rathermodified leaves call bracts .
- dissect the shape , color and hair ( or lack thereof ) of a dogwood tree leaf , as well as the arrangement of the leaves on the stem , can help youidentify the mintage of Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree . * *
Opposite vs. Alternate Leaves
All but one coinage of dogwood trees have what are referred to as diametrical leaf , which means that two leaves are attached to a single thickening , on opposite side of the base .
In one mintage of dogwood , however , the foliage are alternate . This means that there is only one foliage attached to a lymph gland and that the leaves understudy on opposite sides , execute the length of the stem .
Tip
The absolute majority of dogwood tree metal money have diametric leaves .
Distinguishing Features of Dogwood Tree Leaves
Let ’s go over the distinguishing leafage characteristic of some of the most common metal money of dogwood tree diagram .
It is deserving noting that the vein design in near all dogwood tree leafage is pinnate , which means that there is a central vein with secondary venous blood vessel extending out from it , resembling a ladder . The veins in dogwood tree leave-taking crook toward the hint of the leaf .
Flowering Dogwood
The most popular specie of dogwood tree is the flowering dogwood ( Cornus florida , zones 5 to 9 ) which , like the majority of cornel trees , has diametrical leaves .
The leave of this species have six or seven pairs of veins . The nervure on the undersurface of the foliage are covered in hairs .
The margins of the flowering dogwood leaf may be smooth or have a little wavy appearance . The foliage of the flowering dogwood tree diagram is a dull dark green and turns crimson in the spill .
Kousa Dogwood
The Kousa dogwood tree ( Cornus kousa , zone 5 to 8) , also get it on as the Chinese cornel , has burnished , sour green leaves with lengths of about 4 column inch . The underside of Kousa dogwood folio are a paler color . The farewell are opposite .
The leaves have an oval shape and come to a point . If you look at the base of the petiole — the stalk that connects leaves to the stem — of a Kousa dogwood folio , you will comment golden brown hair .
In fall , the leaves of the Kousa dogwood tree twist red or purplish blood-red .
Pagoda Dogwood
The pagoda dogwood tree ( Cornus alternifolia , zona 3 to 7 ) is also known as the alternate folio dogwood tree because it has substitute , rather than polar , leaves . The leaves at the summit of the stem run to be whorled , which mean there are three or more parting attached to a single node .
The pagoda cornel is the only species in this genus that has alternating , rather than opposite , farewell .
The leaves of the pagoda dogwood are a medium green color on the upper airfoil , and pale green or white on the undersurface , which is cut across in hunky-dory hairs . The leaves of this tree rick a reddish - purple color in the fall ; however , some streaks of green and icteric commonly persist visible .
Pagoda dogwood leave are oviform or ellipse - shaped and 3 to 5 inches in length .
