Category:Dogwood

Dog"wood`, n. Etym: [So named from skewers (dags) being made of it. Dr. Prior. See Dag, and Dagger.] (Bot.)

Defn: The Cornus, a genus of large shrubs or small trees, the wood of which is exceedingly hard, and serviceable for many purposes.

Note: There are several species, one of which, Cornus mascula, called also cornelian cherry, bears a red acid berry. C. florida is the flowering dogwood, a small American tree with very showy blossoms. Dogwood tree. (a) The dogwood or Cornus. (b) A papilionaceous tree (Piscidia erythring) growing in Jamaica. It has narcotic properties; -- called also Jamaica dogwood.