P. Mill.
Identity
Unique IDELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.145276
Element CodePDCOR01021
Record TypeSPECIES
ClassificationSpecies
Classification StatusStandard
Name CategoryVascular Plant
IUCNLeast concern
Endemicendemic to a single nation
KingdomPlantae
PhylumAnthophyta
ClassDicotyledoneae
OrderCornales
FamilyCornaceae
GenusCornus
SynonymsCornus amomum ssp. amomumCornus amomum var. amomumSwida amomum(Miller) SmallSwida amomum var. amomum
Other Common Namessilky dogwood (EN)
Concept ReferenceKartesz, J.T. 1994. A synonymized checklist of the vascular flora of the United States, Canada, and Greenland. 2nd edition. 2 vols. Timber Press, Portland, OR.
Taxonomic CommentsThis record is for the narrow treatment of Cornus amomum, excluding C. obliqua as a distinct species, as recognized by Murrell and Poindexter in FNA (2016, vol. 12). Weakley et al. (2025) also recognize the two as distinct species but in the genus Swida. Kartesz (1994) recognized a broader treatment, including C. obliqua as a subspecies. Haines (2010, 2011) recognizes the broader treatment but in the genus Swida with S. amomum var. schuetzeana as the accepted name for FNA's Cornus obliqua.
Conservation Status
Rank Method Rank calculation - Biotics v2
Review Date2024-09-18
Change Date2000-02-09
Edition Date2024-09-18
Edition AuthorsN. Ventrella (2024)
Threat ImpactUnknown
Range Extent>2,500,000 square km (greater than 1,000,000 square miles)
Number of Occurrences> 300
Rank ReasonsCornus amomum is a shrub found on river and stream banks, meadows, marshes, alluvial woods, and ditches of eastern North America from Maine south to Florida, west to Mississippi, and north to Iowa and Michigan. There are an estimated 2,000 occurrences of this species, which are likely threatened by development, alteration of hydrology, rights-of-way maintenance, succession, invasive species, and other threats in some places. Little is known about threats or trends, but with a large range extent, a high number of occurrences, abundant habitat, broad habitat preferences, and no obvious intrinsic vulnerabilities, Cornus amomum is considered secure.
Range Extent CommentsCornus amomum occurs in eastern North America, from Maine south to Florida, west to Mississippi, and north to Iowa and Michigan (FNA 2016). Range extent was estimated to be over 3 million square kilometers using herbarium specimens and photo-based observations documented between 1993 and 2024 (GBIF 2024, iNaturalist 2024, SEINet 2024).
Occurrences CommentsBy applying a 1 km separation distance to herbarium records and photo-based observations documented between 1993 and 2024, there are estimated to be over 2,000 occurrences rangewide (GBIF 2024, iNaturalist 2024, SEINet 2024).
Threat Impact CommentsAlthough threats are not widely documented, Cornus amomum is likely threatened by development, alteration of hydrology, rights-of-way maintenance, succession, invasive species, and other threats in some places, though there is insufficient data, including anecdotal accounts, to understand scope and severity of threats for this species.