Common Name:

General Information

Cornus meyeri is a deciduous shrub or a small tree with a rounded crown; it can grow up to 4 metres tall[].
The plant is harvested from the wild for local use as a food, medicine and source of materials.

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

Range

W. Asia - southeastern Transcaucasus, southern Turkmenistan, Iran

Habitat

Floors and slopes of ravines, in thickets of shrubs and trees[].

Properties

Edibility Rating
Medicinal Rating
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Deciduous Shrub
Height	2.50 m
Pollinators	Insects
Cultivation Status	Wild

Cultivation Details

Succeeds in full sun or light shade[[]. 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.
Plants in this genus are notably resistant to honey fungus[].

Edible Uses

This species has the same uses as the closely related Cornus sanguinea[]. These uses are listed below:-

Fruit - raw or cooked[]. A bitter flavour, it can also have an emetic effect on the body[, , ]. It is not worthwhile[]. The black, globular fruit is about 6 - 8mm in diameter[, ].

An oil is obtained from the seed and fleshy pericarp[, ], it is possibly edible when refined[].

Medicinal

This species has the same uses as the closely related Cornus sanguinea[]. These uses are listed below:-

The bark is astringent and febrifuge[]. It is used to treat fevers[].

The leaves are sometimes used externally as an astringent[].

The fruit is emetic[].

Agroforestry Uses:

The plant can be grown as an ornamental hedge[].

Other Uses

This species has the same uses as the closely related Cornus sanguinea[]. These uses are listed below:-

The seed contains up to 45% of a non-drying oil[], it is used in soap making and lighting[, , , , ].
A non-drying oil is also obtained from the pericarp, it is used for lighting[]. The pericarp contains 19 - 35% oil, exceptionally to 55%[].

A greenish-blue dye is obtained from the fruit[, ].

The young stems are very flexible and are used in basketry[, , , ]. The thin, flexible branches are used in the manufacture of baskets, hoops, and pipe stems[].

The reddish wood is finely-grained, tough, hard. Used for small items such as tool handles, turnery etc[, , , ].
A good quality charcoal is obtained from the wood[], the wood also makes an excellent fuel[].

Propagation

Seed - best sown as soon as it is ripe in a cold frame or in an outdoors seedbed if there is sufficient seed[, ]. The seed must be separated from the fruit flesh since this contains germination inhibitors[, ]. Stored seed should be cold stratified for 3 - 4 months and sown as early as possible in the year[]. 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 the seedlings of cold-frame sown seeds into individual pots as soon as they are large enough to handle and grow the plants on for their first winter in a greenhouse, planting out in the spring after the last expected frosts.
Cuttings of half-ripe side shoots, mid summer in a frame[].
Cuttings of mature wood of the current year's growth, taken with a heel if possible, autumn in a cold frame. High percentage[].
Layering of new growth in early summer/July. Takes 9 months[].