Flowering Dogwood

Cornus florida

no photo — written note
photo: Wikimedia Commons
Plants

Four white bracts open in the understory as the woods green up.

Field facts
HabitatUnderstory of upland forest
RangeStatewide, best in the south
When to lookFlowers late April; red fruit autumn
StatusSecure; anthracnose in some stands (Indiana DNR / IUCN Red List)
Look-alikesKousa Dogwood — planted

Field note: The showy 'petals' are bracts; the true flowers are the tiny green centre cluster.

Lesson
Watching responsibly

Understory soils are fragile; view from the trail.

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