How to Identify a Dogwood Tree Seed
Dogwood trees are a beautiful addition to any home landscape. These trees produce beautiful flowers in a wide variety of colors and stunning fall foliage. Dogwood trees produce a small berry-like fruit which is mildly toxic to humans, but birds and many small forest animals such as squirrels and raccoons eat them frequently. Dogwood seeds are easily identifiable with their cluster of fruits encasing the seed. A little basic knowledge about Dogwood trees is essential for seed identification. Does this Spark an idea?
Instructions
-
-
1
Locate a Dogwood tree. These trees are common throughout the United States and usually grow in groves. Dogwood trees are between 15 and 30 feet tall with short trunks and very spread out branches. The leaves are a pointed oval shape about five inches long and two inches wide with a pale green skin underneath. Sometimes the fruit has fallen and seeds can litter the ground.
-
2
Look for Dogwood fruit clusters on the limbs of the tree. These will be small groups of two or three red berries with protruding black nodes on the ends. You can shake the limbs of the trees and make them drop in early fall.
-
-
3
Identify the shape of the seed if the fruit is no longer around the seed. The shape of the Dogwood seed looks somewhat like a pointed fingernail, with a rough walnut colored texture, less than an inch long.
-
1
Tips & Warnings
The best time to look for dogwood seeds is in September and October, when the red berry clusters are bright and plump.
Dogwood berries are toxic to humans. Small children can become ill if they ingest the seeds.
