Cornus mas
L.
Cornelian cherry, Cornel
(c) Andreas Rockstein, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA)
(c) Hermann Falkner, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC)
(c) lucapassalacqua, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC)
What to Eat
Edible parts: Fruit, Herb, Flowers, Seeds - coffee
The fruit can be eaten raw, dried, or used in preserves. It is juicy with a pleasant acid flavour; fully ripe fruit develops a somewhat plum-like flavour and texture, though unripe fruit is rather astringent. The fruit is relatively low in pectin and is best combined with other fruit when making jam. Historically, the fruit was also preserved in brine and used like olives. Each fruit is a reasonable size, up to 15mm long, containing a single large seed. A small amount of edible oil can be extracted from the seeds. The seeds can also be roasted, ground into a powder, and used as a coffee substitute.
Where to Find It
It is a temperate plant. It is cold hardy. It grows best on chalky soils. It cannot grow on acid soils but will grow on most other soils. It can grow in full sun or light shade. It suits hardiness zones 5-8. Hobart Botanical Gardens. Arboretum Tasmania.
Albania, Armenia, Asia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Balkans, Belgium, Bosnia, Britain, Bulgaria, Canada, Caucasus, Central Asia, Croatia, Czech Republic, Dagestan, Europe*, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Japan, Macedonia, Mediterranean, Moldova, North America, Norway, Romania, Russian Ciscaucasia, Scandinavia, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Switzerland, Tajikistan, Tasmania, Turkey, Türkiye, Ukraine, USA, Yugoslavia,
How to Identify
A very small tree. It has many branches. It grows 4.5-6 m tall. The leaves are opposite and pointed. The leaves are dark glossy green. They are 5-10 cm long and oval. There are 4-5 pairs of veins. Leaves are hairy on both surfaces. The buds are yellow. The flowers occur in small yellow clusters. There are 4 boat shaped flower bracts. The flowers develop on the leafless branches on short side shoots. Trees produce male flowers at first then female flowers later in their growth. The fruit are bright red and occur singly. They are oblong and 2 seeded. They are 15 mm long. They are edible. There are several named cultivated varieties.
Nutrition Score: 32/100
| Part | Moisture | kJ | kcal | Protein | Vit A | Vit C | Iron | Zinc |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fruit | 77 | 336 | 80 | 0.4 | — | 89 | — | — |
How to Grow
An easily grown plant, it succeeds in any soil of good or moderate fertility, ranging from acid to shallow chalk. Grows well in heavy clay soils. Prefers a moist soil and a sunny position but also succeeds in light shade. Plants are fairly wind resistant. Plants grow and crop well in pots. A very hardy plant, tolerating temperatures down to about -25°c. At one time the cornelian cherry was frequently cultivated for its edible fruit, though it has fallen into virtual disuse as a fruit crop in most areas. It is still being cultivated in parts of C. Europe and there are some named varieties. 'Macrocarpa' has larger fruits than the type. 'Nana' is a dwarf form, derived from a yellow-fruited clone. 'Variegata' has been seen on a number of occasions with very large crops of fruit, even in years when the type species has not fruited well. 'Jolico' has well-flavoured fruits 3 times larger than the species. There are also a number of cultivars with yellow, white and purplish fruit. Seedlings can take up to 20 years to come into fruit. Plants produced from cuttings come into fruit when much younger, though they do not live as long as the seedlings. A very ornamental plant it flowers quite early in the year and is a valuable early food for bees. Plants in this genus are notably resistant to honey fungus. In garden design, as well as the above-ground architecture of a plant, root structure considerations help in choosing plants that work together for their optimal soil requirements including nutrients and water.
Propagation: Seed is best sown as soon as it is ripe, either in a cold frame or an outdoor seedbed if sufficient seed is available. The seed must be separated from the fruit flesh, which contains germination inhibitors. Stored seed should be cold stratified for 3–4 months and sown as early in the year as possible. Scarification may also help, as may a period of warm stratification before the cold stratification. Germination, especially of stored seed, can be very slow, taking 18 months or more. Prick out cold-frame seedlings into individual pots once large enough to handle, grow on through their first winter under glass, and plant out in spring after the last expected frosts. Cuttings of half-ripe side shoots can be taken in July/August in a frame. Cuttings of mature wood of the current year's growth, taken with a heel if possible, can be taken in autumn in a cold frame, with a high success rate. Layering of new growth in June/July takes around 9 months to root.
Medicinal Uses
The bark and fruit are astringent, febrifuge, and nutritive. The astringent fruit is used to treat bowel complaints and fevers, and also in the treatment of cholera. The flowers are used in the treatment of diarrhoea.
Other Uses
An oil is obtained from the seed. A dye is obtained from the bark, and a red dye is also reported from the plant, though the specific part is not detailed. The leaves are a good source of tannin. The wood is very hard, heavier than water and does not float; it is highly valued by turners and used for tools, machine parts, and similar items. The plant can also be used as a hedge.
Wikipedia
Source ↗Cornelian cherry (Cornus mas), also known as the European cornel, is a species of shrub or small tree in the dogwood family Cornaceae native to Western Europe, Southern Europe, and Southwestern Asia.
Production
Trees can take 12 years to start producing fruit.
Other Information
The fruit are sold in some local markets. They are harvested in large amounts in Georgia. It is cultivated.
Notes
There are about 45 Cornus species.
Names & Synonyms
Cor, Corn, Cornel dogwood, Corniolo, Crognolo, Curnal', Cuorne, Dren, Drenka, Drenjina, Drienky, Drijen, Drinina, Drinjina, Drjen, Dryan, Hon, Kizilcik, Kizileik, Kuren, Rumeni dren, Shvindi, Som, Sum, Sorbet, Thana, Thane, Thona
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