European Cornel
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| European Cornel | |
|---|---|
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| Branch with fruit | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| (unranked): | Angiosperms |
| (unranked): | Eudicots |
| (unranked): | Asterids |
| Order: | Cornales |
| Family: | Cornaceae |
| Genus: | Cornus |
| Subgenus: | Cornus |
| Species: | C. mas |
| Binomial name | |
| Cornus mas L. |
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The European Cornel (Cornus mas) is a species of dogwood native to southern Europe and southwest Asia. In North America, the plant is known by the common name of Cornelian Cherry.
It is a medium to large deciduous shrub or small tree growing to 5-12 m tall, with dark brown branches and greenish twigs. The leaves are opposite, 4-10 cm long and 2-4 cm broad, with an ovate to oblong shape and an entire margin. The flowers are small (5-10 mm diameter), with four yellow petals, produced in clusters of 10-25 together in the late winter, well before the leaves appear. The fruit is an oblong red drupe 2 cm long and 1.5 cm in diameter, containing a single seed.
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[edit] Uses
[edit] Fruit
The fruit is edible, but the unripe fruit is astringent. The fruit only fully ripens after it falls from the tree. When ripe, the fruit is dark ruby red. It has an acidic flavour which is best described as a mixture of cranberry and sour cherry; it is mainly used for making jam, makes an excellent sauce similar to cranberry sauce when pitted and then boiled with sugar and orange, but also can be eaten dried. In Azerbaijan and Armenia, the fruit is used for distilling vodka. In Turkey and Iran it is eaten with salt as a snack in summer, and traditionally drunk in a cold drink called sherbet. Cultivars selected for fruit production in the Ukraine have fruit up to 4 cm long. The berries when ripe on the plant bear a resemblance to coffee berries, and ripen in mid to late summer.
[edit] Flowers
The species is also grown as an ornamental plant for its late winter flowers, which open earlier than those of forsythia, and, while not as large and vibrant as those of the forsythia, the entire plant can be used for a similar effect in the landscape.
[edit] Wood
The wood of C. mas is extremely dense, and unlike the wood of most other woody plant species, sinks in water. This density makes it valuable for crafting into tool handles, parts for machines, etc.[1] Cornus mas was used from the seventh century B.C. onward by Greek craftsman to construct spears, javelins and bows, the crafsmen considering it far superior to any other wood. [2] The wood's association with weaponry was so well know that the Greek name for it was used as a synonym for "spear" in poetry during the fourth and third centuries B.C.[2]
A dye can be produced from its bark and tannin is produced from its leaves.
[edit] References and notes
- ^ Demir, F.; Hakki Kalyoncu, I. (December 2003). "Some nutritional, pomological and physical properties of cornelian cherry (Cornus mas L.)". Journal of Food Engineering 60 (3): 335-341. "The wood is heavier than water and does not float, therefore it is used for tools, machine parts, etc..".
- ^ a b M. Markle, III, Minor (Summer 1977). "The Macedonian Sarrissa, Spear and Related Armor". American Journal of Archeology (Archeological Institute of America) 81 (3): 323-339. p. 324
[edit] External links
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