Common Name:
RED-OSIER
Synonym:
Cornus stolonifera
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Coefficient of Conservatism:
2
Coefficient of Wetness:
-3
Wetness Index:
FACW
Physiognomy:
Nt Shrub
L. Wallis
C. stolonifera of Michigan Flora.
In almost all sorts of moist situations: marshes, swamps (even coniferous, with tamarack, spruce, and/or cedar), wet shores, sides of rivers and streams; on rock outcrops and talus slopes; coniferous and mixed thickets on shores and common on sand dunes.
The underside of the leaves varies from sparsely pubescent with a few appressed often 2-pronged hairs to having dense curly hairs. Plants with the latter are sometimes recognized as C. baileyi J. M. Coult. & Evans, and occur often on sand dunes and shores, though widespread elsewhere in our area. This entity needs further study.
This species is sometimes subsumed under the Eurasian Cornus alba L. Although the branches are typically bright red, occasionally they are green (but may turn red in drying); a form with yellow twigs is cultivated, as are some other red-stemmed species. Cornus foemina may have white pith but has gray bark, never curly pubescence, and often fewer as well as less bold leaf veins compared to C. sericea; see comments under that species.