Cornus mas L.

Cornus mas L. is a species of flowering plant in the family Ericaceae. It is commonly known as cornelian cherry, European cornel, or Cornelian cherry dogwood. The plant is native to Western Europe, Southern Europe, and Southwestern Asia. It is a medium to large deciduous shrub or small tree that grows up to 5-12 meters tall. 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, with four yellow petals, produced in clusters of 10-25 together in the late winter (between February and March in the UK), 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. The fruit is edible and widely popular in Iran, where it is believed to have various medicinal properties and provide health benefits. It is also used in Eastern Europe, the UK, and British Columbia, Canada, but the unripe fruit is astringent. When ripe, the fruit is dark ruby red or a bright yellow. It has an acidic flavor which is best described as a mixture of cranberry and sour cherry. It is mainly used for making jam. 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.