The Legend of the Dogwood

There's a legend that at the time of the Crucifixion the dogwood had been the size of the oak and other forest trees. As legend has it, the cross on which Jesus was crucified was made from a dogwood tree.  The dogwood tree from that day forth never grow large enough to be used to make a cross. Thus, the dogwood tree is a small, under story tree.   The flower of the dogwood has  four petals which makes the shape of a cross.  The center of the flower resembles the crown of thorns with bright red,  clustered fruit in the center representing the blood of Christ.