Dogwood

Dogwood (Cornus sp) is often associated with the south. In fact, flowering dogwood (Cornus florida) is the state flower of both North Carolina and Virginia. But we have several species here in the western states, including this one that resembles the magnolia-esque southern belles - Pacific dogwood (Cornus nuttallii).  Incidentally, it's the provincial flower of British Columbia.   

The flowers are actually the compact inconspicuous cluster in the middle (in the picture above only one has opened), while 4 to 8 large, cream-colored petal-like bracts are the show.  Most of the other Cornus species in California lack the showy bracts and instead have sort-of showy clusters of small flowers with white petals.   The fruits are large, brightly colored compound drupes.

This dogwood shrub was tall enough to call a tree, and was growing on a stream bank by Orr Springs Road, not far from Montgomery woods.  I don't see them here on the coast very often, so its was a nice sight to see on my drive inland.

I can't find a straight answer on the origin of the name dogwood.  Apparently there are dogwood in the new and the old world, and the word seems to have been around since the 1500s, leaving plenty of time for various theories to develop: one is that the name alludes to Hecate's hounds of Greek mythology, and another that it comes from dagwood, as in dagger (dog wood has very hard wood, good for that sort of thing). 

Photos from April 30.