Day 238: According to some authorities, the previous identification of this plant as Cornus canadensis (Canadian Dogwood) is in error. Canadian Dogwood is an eastern species, and the Cornus of the Pacific Northwest is sufficiently different to merit a classification all its own. Here enters the confusion created by common names which plagues the weekend naturalist! I would suggest that alaschkensis be referred to as "Bunchberry" to distinguish it from Canadian Dogwood if you must give it an English appellation. Perhaps more people would use the Latin if it didn't tongue-tie them and overtax their spelling skills.
Bunchberry, pretty little thing that it is, grows in damp forested areas. Like a Poinsettia, the white "petals" are not petals at all, but bracts, and occasionally sports appear which have white stripes or patches on the leaves. The inflorescence is the tight cluster of small flowers in the center. The fruits arise in a grouping of a few bright red berries, edible but pithy and not particularly valuable as a food source.
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