The New Student's Reference Work/Dogwood

Dog′wood. Species of the genus Cornus which includes about 30 species, mostly in the temperate regions of the northern hemisphere. They usually are trees or shrubs, but sometimes herbs. The most showy species is the native C. florida, which is the flowering dogwood appearing in early spring. Its bark is said to contain the same substance as found in quinine. The wood is very hard and heavy, being used for tool-handles. The ordinary bush-forms, with red and greenish twigs and white, bluish or red berries, are common throughout the United States.