User:Jwarstle20/Cornus drummondii

Description
Cornus drummondii is a deciduous tree from the Cornaceae family. Cornus drummondii produces fruit that ripens from August to October. It is uncommon in the wild, and is mostly found around forest borders. The Roughleaf Dogwood is used as a buffer strip around parking lots, in the median of highways and near the decks and patios of homes. The Roughleaf Dogwood is used as an ornamental tree because of its ability to survive with little care once mature because of it's tolerance to pests, low water requirements and tolerance to shade. It can grow to a height of 15 to 25 feet (4.6 - 7.6 m) with a spread of 10 to 15 feet (3.1 - 4.6 m). The Roughleaf Dogwood flowers during the summer months. Cornus drummondii is listed as "Least Concern" on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.

Foliage
Leaves: petiole 8–25 mm; blade lanceolate to ovate, 2–12 × 1.2–7.7 cm, base cuneate, truncate, or cordate, apex abruptly acuminate, abaxial surface pale green, hairs curved upward, dense, adaxial surface gray-green, hairs curved upward or appressed; secondary veins 3–4(–5) per side, most arising from proximal 1/2. The leaf is ovately shaped and has a pinnate venation. The leaves are an olive green color. The flowers bloom white and bloom in the months April to July.

Growing Conditions
Cornus drummondii requires a low amount of water to grow. Can grow in Shaded or partially shaded areas. Will grow in dry or moist soil. Alkaline soil. C. drummondii can be grown in sandy, sandy loam, medium loam, clay loam, and clay soils. Unlike many of the dogwood's from the same genus, the roughleaf dogwood is very adaptable and can grow in a multitude of conditions.

Habitat
The native habitat for Cornus drummondii are Swamps & marshes; wet to dry woods & thickets; lake & stream banks; dry, limestone hills. The unnatural habitat for Cornus drummondii is planted in highway buffer zones, forest edges along highways and used ornamentally.

Taxonomy
The species name drummondii is named for Scottish naturalist Thomas Drummond by Carl Anton Von Mey in 1845. Drummond's collection of 750 plant species has been shared throughout museums and scientific institutions throughout the world. The genus name Cornus comes from the Latin word for horn, "Cornu" which is likely in reference to the tree's dense wood.

Horticultural Use
Cornus drummondii should be grown in full sunlight and well drained soil. The Roughleaf Dogwood does not require much water to grow. The Roughleaf Dogwood does not require constant attention and grows very easily making it favorable to grow along buffer zones for highways and roundabouts as well as for yard decorators that need a tree that is easy to grow. Cornus drummondii is used often as an ornamental plant for yard decoration. Cornus Drummondii is used to decorate the median of highways and planted along forest edges. Cornus drummondii is often planted to attract birds as birds tend to favor the Roughleaf Dogwood fruit.

Distribution
Cornus drummondii can be found in the United States of America as far west and south as Texas, as far east as New York, and as far north as Ontario in Canada. The native distribution is Mississippi to Texas to Ontario and from Ohio to Nebraska.

Ethnobotany
Cornus drummondii was used by the Native American Tribe Iroquois as a venereal aid to treat gonorrhea by infusing switches mixed with the fruit from the tree.

Wetland Indicator Status
Cornus drummondii is considered Facultative(FAC) meaning it can occur in wetland and non-wetland environment.

Wildlife use
There are over 40 species of bird that eat the roughleaf dogwood fruit such as mockingbirds(Mimus polyglottos), bluebirds(sialia sialis), and cardinals( Cardinalis cardinalis).Other typical fruit eating animals eat the fruit such as raccoons, squirrels, deer, rabbits, skunks, and black bears. Along the forest edges where the roughleaf dogwood is planted, animals use the dense thicket that is created for cover. Birds such as the wood warbler, Yellow-rumped Warbler, kinglets, and flycatchers are known to feast on the fruits as flocks in the fall and winter. This is a common way in which C. drummondii is dispersed.

Conservation Status
There is no status rank(SNR/SU/SNA) for Cornus drummondii in the states Texas, Oklahoma, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, Arkansas, Tennessee, Kansas, Nebraska, South Dakota, Missouri, Illinois, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Michigan. C. drummondii is critically imperiled(S1) in Georgia, Minnesota, and New York. C. drummondii is secure(S5) in the states Iowa, Indiana, and Kentucky.