Cornaceae FAMILY

Cornus sanguinea

Edibility

2/5

Medicinal

2/5

Safety & Hazards

Contrary to some reports, the fruit is not poisonous, but the leaves can cause skin irritations to sensitive people[ 65 Title A Colour Atlas of Poisonous Plants. Publication Author Frohne. D. and Pfänder. J. Publisher Wolfe Year 1984 ISBN 0723408394 Description Brilliant. Goes into technical details but in a very readable way. The best work on the subject that I've come across so far. ].

Botanical Description

Cornus sanguinea is a deciduous shrub producing a cluster of procumbent or drooping stems up to 3 metres tall. The plant does not have a rhizomatous rootstock[ 270 Title Flora of N. America Publication Author Website http://flora.huh.harvard.edu/fna/ Publisher Year 0 ISBN Description An on-line version of the flora with an excellent description of the plant including a brief mention of plant uses. ]. The plant is harvested from the wild for local use as a food, medicine and source of materials. It is often grown as an ornamental in gardens, valued especially for the colour of its stems in winter.

Habitat & Origin

Origintemperate

Native RangeThroughout Europe, excluding Finland, Moldova and Iceland; W. Asia - Turkey, Syria, Lebanon, Caucasus

HabitatMixed woods, scrub and hedgerows, especially on calcareous soils[ 7 Title Encyclopaedia of Medicinal Plants. Publication Author Chiej. R. Publisher MacDonald Year 1984 ISBN 0-356-10541-5 Description Covers plants growing in Europe. Also gives other interesting information on the plants. Good photographs. , 13 Title Hamlyn Encyclopaedia of Plants. Publication Author Triska. Dr. Publisher Hamlyn Year 1975 ISBN 0-600-33545-3 Description Very interesting reading, giving some details of plant uses and quite a lot of folk-lore. , 186 Title Planting Native Trees and Shrubs. Publication Author Beckett. G. and K. Publisher Jarrold Year 1979 ISBN - Description An excellent guide to native British trees and shrubs with lots of details about the plants. ].