Syn.: Cornus priceae Small, Cornus stricta A. Gray ex S. Watson, Swida drummondii (C. A. Mey.) Soják, Swida priceae (Small) Small, Thelycrania priceae (Small) Pojark.
Family: Cornaceae Bercht. et J. Presl
Distribution: North American species occurring from Canadian Ontario through eastern part of US, from South Dakota to Texas, from Iowa to New York and southward to Georgia; absent in Virginias and Carolinas.
Ecology: Basically a understory shrub found in open woods, banks of streams, usually in moist soil but adaptable to various habitats regarding the moisture requirements and from sun to heavy shade. Blooms from early April to June.
Description: Shrub to small tree, to 6 m tall, deciduous, forming clumps or multitrunk trees. Bark reddish brown or grey. Leaves opposite, green, on green twigs, 2.5–10 cm long, oval, acuminate tip, glossy, prominent veins, margins smooth, short petioled, undersides softly pubescent. Fall colour is purplish-red. Flowers in terminal flat-topped cluster, many, about 6 mm across, petals 4, cream coloured, sepals 4, stamens 4, white, pistil 1. Fruit is a berry, fleshy, white, round 7–8 mm.
Note: The species was named in honour of Thomas Drummond (1793–1835) who collected this species on his last collecting trip across the American continent.
These images were taken in USA, Louisiana, Jean Lafitte National Park, Barataria Preserve (May 2014).
