North Carolina
On March 15, 1941, the North Carolina Legislature chose the dogwood, a flowering tree found from the coast to the mountains, as its state flower. And just two years later, on March 4, 1943, the state's lawmakers selected the cardinal, a year-round resident of North Carolina, as the Tar Heel state's official bird.
Flowering Dogwood
Flowering dogwood
The dogwood (Cornus florida) blooms in early spring and continues well into summer throughout North Carolina. Because of its widespread popularity across the state, the dogwood was able to beat out the daisy, goldenrod, flame azalea, Venus flytrap and pinecone to become the state's official flower. The dogwood is native to North America and is a deciduous tree that grows to 15 to 40 feet in height.
Appearance
Dogwood Bracts
The dogwood "flower" actually is made of four white or pink petal-like "bracts," or modified leaves. The bracts surround a small cluster of yellow flowers. Dogwoods flower in the spring (from late April to early May in North Carolina), fruit in the summer with bright red berries and put on a display of wine-colored foliage in the fall.
Special Characteristics
Extracts of the dogwood's bark have been used to cure toothaches and whooping cough in humans and mange in dogs. In fact, this may have played a part in the origin of the tree's name. Oil from the fruit has been used in France to make soap and the wood of several species has been employed in furniture making.
Winter Redbird
Male cardinal
The cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis)--also known as the "winter redbird" because it is so easy to see against the winter landscape--is one of the most common songbirds found throughout North Carolina. Naturalist John James Audubon said of the cardinal: "In richness of plumage, elegance of motion and strength of song, this species surpasses all of its kindred in the United States." Perhaps that's why the cardinal also is the state bird in Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Ohio, Virginia and West Virginia.
Appearance
Female cardinal
The male cardinal is a brilliant red color all over, except for its throat and the area around its bill, which is black. It has a prominent crest on its head and large wings and tail. The female is duller, with a less brilliant red confined to its crest, wings and tail.
Special Characterisitics
Cardinal nests are made of stems, grass and other plant materials in low shrubs or small trees. In North Carolina and other southern regions, the birds raise an average of three broods per season in these nests. Cardinals eat seeds, small fruit and insects. In contrast to most songbird species, the male and female each are exceptional singers.
Tags: North Carolina, been used, state official, throughout North, throughout North Carolina, wings tail
