Cornus Canadensis

Please note that the content of this book primarily consists of articles available from Wikipedia or other free sources online. Cornus canadensis (Canadian Dwarf Cornel, Canadian Bunchberry, Crackerberry, in China cao zhu yu) is a herbaceous member of the Cornaceae (dogwood) family. It grows about 20-30 cm tall and bears tiny flowers a few millimeters across that form an inflorescence at the center of four white, petal-like bracts 3-4 cm diameter. Each flower has highly elastic petals that flip backward, releasing springy filaments that are cocked underneath the petals. The filaments snap upward flinging pollen out of containers hinged to the filaments. This motion takes place in less than half a millisecond and the pollen experiences 800 times the acceleration that the space shuttle does during liftoff.