red osier

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• red-osier cornel
• red-osier dogwood
• American dogwood
• Bailey's dogwood
• creek dogwood
• red osier dogwood
• red twig dogwood
• red willow
• red-twig dogwood
• redstem dogwood

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Swida sericea subsp. baileyi
• Swida alba var. flaviramea
• Cornus alba var. angustipetala
• Swida sericea
• Cornus nelsonii
• Ossea instolonea
• Swida stolonifera var. riparia
• Swida stolonifera
• Cornus instolonea
• Ossea interior
• Cornus interior
• Swida instolonea
• Cornus purshii
• Swida interior
• Swida sericea subsp. interior
• Cornus stolonifera
• Swida alba subsp. stolonifera
• Cornus candissima
• Swida californica
• Cornus baileyi
• Swida baileyi
• Cornus alba subsp. stolonifera
• Thelycrania baileyi
• Cornus alba subsp. baileyi
• Thelycrania californica
• Thelycrania instolonea
• Thelycrania interior
• Thelycrania sericea
• Thelycrania stolonifera
• Cornus pubescens var. californica
• Cornus alba var. splendens
• Cornus californica var. nevadensis
• Cornus stolonifera f. repens
• Cornus stolonifera var. riparia
• Cornus stolonifera var. splendens
• Cornus sericea f. baileyi
• Cornus sericea f. californica
• Cornus sericea f. interior
• Cornus sericea var. oblongifolia
• Cornus sericea f. stolonifera
• Cornus sericea subsp. stolonifera
• Cornus stolonifera f. angustior
• Cornus stolonifera var. angustipetala
• Cornus stolonifera f. azurea
• Cornus stolonifera f. baileyi
• Cornus stolonifera var. baileyi
• Cornus stolonifera var. behnschii
• Cornus stolonifera var. californica
• Cornus stolonifera f. californica
• Cornus stolonifera var. coloradensis
• Cornus stolonifera f. dolichocarpa
• Cornus stolonifera var. elata
• Cornus stolonifera var. elongata
• Cornus stolonifera var. flaviramea
• Cornus stolonifera f. flaviramea
• Cornus stolonifera var. interior
• Cornus stolonifera f. interior
• Cornus stolonifera var. nitida
• Cornus alba f. azurea
• Cornus alba var. baileyi
• Cornus alba f. baileyi
• Cornus alba var. behnschii
• Cornus alba var. californica
• Cornus alba var. coloradensis
• Cornus alba var. elata
• Cornus alba var. elongata
• Cornus alba var. flaviramea
• Cornus alba var. interior
• Cornus alba var. nitida
• Cornus sericea var. baileyi

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta, falling under the class Equisetopsida and subclass Magnoliidae. Within the order Cornales and family Cornaceae, it is classified under the genus Cornus. Specifically, Cornus sericea represents a distinct species within this established taxonomic hierarchy.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant, known as Cornus sericea, exhibits a specific distribution throughout the regions of Northern Europe. It can be found growing naturally across the landscape of Denmark. Additionally, its presence extends into the northern territories of Finland. The species is also documented within the borders of Great Britain and Ireland. Finally, its geographical range includes the rugged terrain of Norway.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Cornus sericea is characterized by its adaptability to various moisture levels, though it thrives most vigorously in riparian zones, wetlands, and moist thickets where soil remains consistently damp. While it naturally colonizes stream banks and swampy margins to stabilize soil through its extensive root systems, it is also frequently integrated into anthropogenic environments, such as the garden, where it can be cultivated if provided with adequate hydration and nutrient-rich soil. This species typically occupies successional habitats, often acting as a pioneer or mid-successional shrub in temperate woodland edges and disturbed sites. Its presence is often indicative of high water availability and can support diverse local fauna, providing both nesting sites for birds and essential nectar sources for pollinators during its flowering period.

Habitat :

garden

Life history

The life history of Cornus sericea is characterized by its nature as a perennial species, allowing it to persist through multiple growing seasons and establish robust root systems. In terms of its structural growth patterns and life forms, it is classified as a phanerophyte, as it maintains its buds well above the ground level during unfavorable seasons. Additionally, it exhibits characteristics of a nanophanerophyte, reflecting its ability to maintain relatively low-growing woody structures that contribute to its resilient habit in diverse habitats.

Life form :

nanophanerophyte

Life form :

phanerophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Cornus sericea is characterized by its woody structure and diverse growth forms, manifesting as both a tree and a shrub. As a self-supporting plant, it does not function as a climber or a vine, maintaining a sturdy, independent stature. It is a terrestrial species, categorized as neither aquatic nor an epiphyte, and grows as an independent organism without parasitic tendencies. In terms of dimensions, the plant typically reaches a maximum height of 3 meters, though it can vary with a minimum height of 1 meter and an average height of approximately 3.53 meters.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

tree

Growth form :

shrub

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

3 m

Plant height mean:

3.52666666666667 m

Plant height min:

1 m

Woodiness :

woody

Physiology

The physiology of Cornus sericea is characterized by a standard C3 photosynthetic pathway, a common metabolic strategy among woody dicotyledonous shrubs where carbon fixation occurs directly through the Calvin cycle within the mesophyll cells. This pathway allows the plant to efficiently utilize atmospheric CO2 under temperate environmental conditions, although it is subject to photorespiration when stomatal conductance decreases. Furthermore, the plant exhibits a non-carnivorous physiological profile, meaning it relies entirely on its root system for the uptake of essential mineral nutrients and water from the soil rather than capturing and digesting organic matter through specialized foliar structures.

Carnivory :

non-carnivorous

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Reproduction

The reproduction of Cornus sericea is characterized by a sexual process, as asexual reproduction is absent. The flowering period typically commences in June and concludes in July. During this time, the plant utilizes biotic pollination syndromes, specifically relying on insects to facilitate the transfer of pollen. While self-fertilization is present, the reproductive cycle is heavily dependent on these biological vectors. Following pollination, the plant develops fleshy, indehiscent fruits classified as drupes, which have an average width of 0.62 cm. The seeds produced within these fruits vary in mass, with a mean weight of approximately 0.0282 g (ranging from a minimum of 0.02317 g to a maximum of 0.0413 g) and a consistent seed volume of 52 mm³. Dispersal is achieved through a zoochorous syndrome, specifically endozoochorous, meaning the seeds are dispersed via the internal passage through animals, ensuring the spread of the species across its habitat.

Dehiscence :

indehiscent

Dispersal syndrome :

zoochorous

Dispersal syndrome :

endozoochorous

Flowering time :

Jun

Flowering time :

Jul

Fruit dryness :

fleshy

Fruit type :

drupe

Fruit width mean:

0.62 cm

Pollination syndrome :

insect

Pollination syndrome :

biotic

Reproduction asexual :

absent

Seed mass max:

0.0413 g

Seed mass mean:

0.0282468888333333 g

Seed mass min:

0.02317 g

Seed volume max:

52 mm³

Self fertilization :

present

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Cornus sericea has 1 reported plant parts identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include leaf.

Leaf

1. Functional plant biology : FPB

Chemicals

Cornus sericea has 2 reported phytochemicals identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Hydrolyzable Tannins, Proanthocyanidins.

Hydrolyzable Tannins

1. Functional plant biology : FPB

Proanthocyanidins

1. Functional plant biology : FPB

Preparations

Cornus sericea has 1 reported preparations identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include methanol extracts.

Methanol extracts

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology