Alternate name: Ground Dogberry, Canadian Bunchberry
Family: Cornaceae, Dogwood view all from this family
Description Erect stems grow in extensive low patches, with 1 whorl of leaves at top and, just above, a cluster of tiny greenish flowers surrounded by 4 ovate white or pinkish bracts. The flower cluster resembles a single large flower held on a short stalk above leaves.
Flowers: bracts 1 1/2-4" (3.8-10 cm) wide; tiny flowers in globose cluster at center of head have 4 sepals and 4 petals.
Leaves: 3/4-3" (2-7.5 cm) long, narrowly ovate, pointed, with veins curved into an arc. 1 or 2 pairs of reduced, scale-like leaves present on stem below whorled main leaves.
Fruit: bright red, round, berries in a tight cluster.
Height: 2-8" (5-20 cm).
Flower May-August.
Habitat Cool, moist woods and damp openings.
Range Across southern Canada to Labrador and southern Greenland; across northern and central United States.
Discussion Among the smallest of a genus of mostly shrubs and trees, Bunchberry makes an excellent ground cover in the moist woodland garden, and is equally attractive in flower or fruit. This showy wildflower and Northern Dwarf Cornel (C. suecica) of the northern forests are the only herbs in the dogwood group, the other members being trees or shrubs. C. suecica occurs in Canada, south to the St. Lawrence River and east to Nova Scotia. It has small purple flowers surrounded by 4 bracts.
