Cornaceae - dogwood family

Mount Desert Island is home to 3 species in 2 genera. Click on a link below or scroll down for more information.
   Chamaepericlymenum (1 species)
      Chamaepericlymenum canadense - Canada dwarf-dogwood (common [see note 1 at bottom of page])
   Swida (2 species)
      Swida alternifolia - alternate-leaved dogwood (occasional)
      Swida rugosa - round-leaved dogwood (uncommon)

Chamaepericlymenum (dwarf-dogwood)

Chamaepericlymenum canadense (Canada dwarf-dogwood) - [information to be added]

Swida (dogwood)
Mount Desert Island's two species of dogwoods can be distinguished from each other by the arrangement of their leaves. The leaves of Swida alternifolia, as the specific epithet alternifolia indicates, alternate on the stem, and the leaves of S. rugosa are opposite.

Swida alternifolia (alternate-leaved dogwood) - The branching pattern of this species is alternate [see image below], the same as the arrangement of its leaves.

Swida rugosa (round-leaved dogwood) leaves are nearly round in outline. The twig is greenish with reddish blotches

Note:
   1. Frequency designations are from the paper "Vascular flora of the Acadia National Park region, Maine" by Craig W. Greene, Linda L. Gregory, Glen H. Mittelhauser, Sally C. Rooney, and Jill E. Weber, published in the spring 2005 issue (vol. 107, No. 930) of Rhodora: Journal of the New England Botanical Club.