About Cornus sessilis Torr.
Cornus sessilis Torr., this dogwood, is a deciduous shrub or small tree that reaches a maximum height of nearly 5 metres (16 ft). In growing season it produces oval green leaves with deep veins, which turn red before dropping. Its inflorescence consists of a cluster of tiny greenish-yellow flowers surrounded by thick, pointed bracts. It produces a round drupe fruit around one centimeter wide; the fruit is white when newly formed, and gradually develops a shiny black color. This fruit attracts many birds. This species is endemic to northern California, where it grows along streambanks in the Cascades, Sierra Nevada, and coastal mountain ranges. Within its native range, it grows as a tree in the redwood understory.
