cornelian-cherry

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• Cornelian-Cherry
• Cornelian Cherry
• sorbet
• Cornelian cherry dogwood
• European Cornel
• Kierelter

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Cornus mas f. flava
• Cornus mas f. aurea-elegantissima
• Cornus nudiflora
• Cornus mas f. polonica
• Cornus mas f. andrzejowskii
• Cornus homerica
• Macrocarpium mas
• Eukrania mascula
• Cornus mas f. aurea
• Cornus mas f. conica
• Cornus mas var. aurea-elegantissima
• Cornus mascula var. aurea-elegantissima
• Cornus mas f. elegantissima
• Cornus mas var. nana
• Cornus mas f. variegata
• Cornus mas var. oblongifolia
• Cornus mas var. variegata
• Cornus mas f. oxycarpa
• Cornus mas var. sphaerocarpa
• Cornus mas var. pyriformis
• Cornus mas var. flava
• Cornus mascula
• Cornus mas f. luteocarpa
• Cornus mas var. xanthocarpa
• Cornus mas var. alba
• Cornus erythrocarpa
• Cornus mas f. alba
• Cornus praecox
• Cornus mas f. albocarpa
• Cornus vernalis
• Cornus mas var. albocarpa
• Cornus mas f. nana
• Cornus mas f. microcarpa
• Cornus mas f. macrocarpa

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant, known scientifically as Cornus mas, belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta. It is classified within the class Equisetopsida and subclass Magnoliidae, falling under the order Cornales. Finally, it is a member of the family Cornaceae and the genus Cornus.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant, commonly known as Cornus mas, exhibits a specific range across Northern Europe. Its presence can be noted within the borders of Denmark and Great Britain. Furthermore, the species is distributed throughout the landscapes of Ireland. It also thrives in the northern reaches of Norway. Finally, its geographical footprint extends into the territories of Sweden.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Cornus mas is characterized by its adaptability to diverse woodland environments, where it frequently thrives within forests, along forest edges, and amidst dense shrubberies. It is a resilient species capable of colonizing various elevations, extending its range into mountainous regions where it plays a vital role in the structural complexity of the understory. By occupying these transitional zones and shaded habitats, the plant benefits from the specific microclimates provided by canopy cover and edge effects, contributing to the biodiversity of its ecosystem through its niche positioning in both montane and lowland woody communities.

Habitat :

forest, forest edges, mountains, shrubberies

Life history

The life history of Cornus mas is characterized by its nature as a perennial species, ensuring its long-term presence within its ecological niche. As a phanerophyte, the plant maintains its conductive and reproductive organs well above the ground, typically developing into a woody shrub or small tree. Its growth pattern is defined by a deciduous habit, meaning it sheds its foliage annually in response to seasonal changes, a cycle that dictates its metabolic activity and dormancy periods. This combination of a long-lived perennial lifecycle, a phanerophyte life form, and deciduousness allows the plant to adapt effectively to temperate climates through structured seasonal transitions.

Deciduousness :

deciduous

Life form :

phanerophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Cornus mas is characterized by a woody growth form, primarily manifesting as a shrub or a small tree. It is a self-supporting plant that does not function as a climber or a vine, and it grows as an independent organism rather than a parasite or an epiphyte. As a terrestrial species, it thrives in land-based environments rather than aquatic or semiaquatic habitats. The plant exhibits significant variation in stature, with a height ranging from a minimum of 2 m to a maximum of 10 m, though it maintains a mean height of approximately 5.7 m.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

shrub

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

10 m

Plant height mean:

5.7 m

Plant height min:

2 m

Woodiness :

woody

Physiology

The physiology of Cornus mas is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway, a common metabolic strategy among temperate woody species that involves the direct fixation of carbon dioxide through the Calvin cycle. The plant is non-carnivorous, relying entirely on its root system and soil nutrients for sustenance rather than capturing prey. Morphologically, its foliage exhibits a mean leaf size of approximately 18.8457 cm², which contributes to its overall leaf economics. This is further reflected in its Specific Leaf Area (SLA), which has a mean value of 319.8 cm²/g, indicating a leaf structure that balances carbon assimilation efficiency with the physical demands of its growing environment.

Carnivory :

non-carnivorous

Leaf size mean:

18.8457 cm²

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Specific Leaf Area (SLA) mean:

319.8 cm²/g

Reproduction

The reproduction of Cornus mas is characterized by a sexual reproductive cycle, as asexual reproduction is notably absent. The flowering period typically commences in February and concludes in April, utilizing a biotic pollination syndrome primarily driven by insects. While self-fertilization is present within the species, the reproductive success is closely tied to these insect pollinators. Following successful pollination, the plant produces fleshy, indehiscent fruits classified as drupes. These fruits facilitate seed dispersal through a zoochorous syndrome, specifically via endozoochory, where animals consume the fruit and disperse the seeds. The seeds themselves exhibit specific morphological traits, with a mean mass of approximately 0.2984 g (ranging from a minimum of 0.088 g to a maximum of 0.3522 g) and a consistent seed volume of 230 mm³.

Dehiscence :

indehiscent

Dispersal syndrome :

zoochorous

Dispersal syndrome :

endozoochorous

Flowering time :

Feb

Flowering time :

Apr

Fruit dryness :

fleshy

Fruit type :

drupe

Pollination syndrome :

insect

Pollination syndrome :

biotic

Reproduction asexual :

absent

Seed mass max:

0.3522 g

Seed mass mean:

0.298404809666667 g

Seed mass min:

0.088 g

Seed volume max:

230 mm³

Self fertilization :

present

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Cornus mas has 3 reported plant parts identified across 6 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include fruit, flower, leaf.

Fruit

1. Frontiers in pharmacology
2. Nutrients
3. Biomolecules
4. Food and chemical toxicology : an international journal published for the British Industrial Biological Research Association

Flower

1. Natural product research

Leaf

1. Natural product research

Chemicals

Cornus mas has 31 reported phytochemicals identified across 6 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Anthocyanins, Flavonoid, Flavonoids, Gallic acid, Iridoids.

Anthocyanins

1. Frontiers in pharmacology
2. Biomolecules

Flavonoid

1. Natural product research
2. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

Flavonoids

1. Frontiers in pharmacology
2. Biomolecules

Gallic acid

1. Dr. Duke
2. Planta medica

Iridoids

1. Frontiers in pharmacology
2. Biomolecules

Loganin

1. Journal of chromatographic science
2. Natural product research

ellagic acid

1. Dr. Duke
2. Planta medica

CHLOROGENIC ACID

1. Food and chemical toxicology : an international journal published for the British Industrial Biological Research Association

Cardamonin

1. Antioxidants (Basel, Switzerland)

Cornuside

1. Natural product research

Activities

Cornus mas has 298 reported activities identified across 6 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antibacterial, Antidiabetic, Antihyperlipidemic, Antioxidant, Antitumor.

Antibacterial

1. Dr. Duke
2. Natural product research

Antidiabetic

1. Dr. Duke
2. Frontiers in pharmacology

Antihyperlipidemic

1. Dr. Duke
2. Frontiers in pharmacology

Antioxidant

1. Dr. Duke
2. Antioxidants (Basel, Switzerland)

Antitumor

1. Dr. Duke
2. Natural product research

Cytotoxic

1. Dr. Duke
2. Natural product research

Hepatoprotective

1. Dr. Duke
2. Frontiers in pharmacology

11B-HSD-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

5-Alpha-Reductase-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

5-HT-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

Medicinal Uses

Cornus mas has 33 reported medicinal uses identified across 6 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported uses include atherosclerosis, cancer, diabetes mellitus, diarrhea, dyslipidemia.

Most Reported Uses

Preparations