<p>Scientific Name: <i>Cornus canadensis L.</i>
Common Name: Benchberry
Certainty: positive
Location: Wells Gray Provincial Park, BC
Date: 20080530
</p><p>This is so abundant as to completely carpet the forest floor in aspen groves. You can't take a step this time of year around here without trampling several.
</p><p>The name refers to the fact that this "flower" is actually a composite of several flowers, which -- in fruit -- turn into a tightly-clustered bunch of bright red berries.  The "petals" are actually not even flower parts -- they're bracts subtending the inflorescence.  The petals and sepals are so small that I can't even make them out in this photo.
</p><p>The better-known cousin, <i>Cornus florida</i>, the state flower of Virginia, shares the same showy bracts and tightly clustered flowers.  However not all species in the genus do so.  I believe <i>Cornus alternifolia</i> is one such species, also a native to eastern North America.
</p>
This species is (according to Cronquist and Hitchcock) also known locally as "puddingberry" and "dwarf cornel".  Don't look at me, I don't make these things up...<i></i>
<a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.flickr.com/people/7147684@N03">Jason Hollinger</a>
CC BY 2.0
<p><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/7147684@N03/2543627139/">Bunchberries</a>
</p>
<ul><li>Uploaded by <a href="//commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/User:Amada44" title="User:Amada44">Amada44</a></li></ul>