Encyclopedia
of Stanford Trees, Shrubs, and Vines
Cornus capitata. EVERGREEN DOGWOOD. Himalayas
CORNACEAE (Dogwood family)
A small evergreen tree, leaves a paler green underneath,
with prominent ribs. The extraordinary red fruit body is composed of 30 or 40
pink, fused, roughly six-sided fruits each with a stubby, central-style remnant.
It is interesting to watch the different stages of development of the fruit, which
is eaten in India, starting from a tiny granulated green knob subtended by four
bracts whose shadows can be seen long after the bracts fall. The wood was familiar
in Greek times for use in javelins, as reported in the Aeneid. See behind Building
40, and one next to a lamp at the northwest corner of Lagunita Court facing Santa
Teresa St. (near Spiraea nipponica).
Illustrations (links open new windows): gallery
Additions/Revisions:
Name derivation, genus | species Latin for horn, from the toughness of the wood | head-like, aggregated into a dense cluster
Related
material: Canopy Trees for Palo Alto Tree
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