Domestic Encyclopædia (1802)/Cornel-tree

CORNEL-TREE, or Cornus, L. a genus of plants comprising six species, of which only two are indigenous.

1. The sanguinea, wild cornel-tree, or dog-wood, which is chiefly found in woods and hedges. It produces white flowers, which are in bloom in the month of June, and are succeeded by round berries. The wood of this species is hard and smooth, and is chiefly employed in turnery-ware. Its leaves change to a deep blood- colour in autumn. The berries are bitter, and dye purple: on account of their cooling and astringent nature, they are said to strengthen the stomach; stop fluxes of every kind, and to be very serviceable in fevers, especially if accompanied with a diarrhœa. From one bushel of the kernels of these berries, l6lb. of lamp-oil were obtained by expression. The plant is eaten by horses, sheep, and goats, but refused by cows.

2. The suecica, or dwarf-cornel, which is found in mountainous situations, chiefly on the Cheviot-hills, in Northumberland; and in some parts of Yorkshire and Scotland. It is perennial, produces white blossoms, that appear in June or July, and are succeeded by red berries, which are eaten by the Swedes.