The cornaceae (dogwood) family are a group of shrubs and trees, divided into two genera, alangium and cornus, of which only the latter is represented in the US, with 16 native species, six in the western states. Leaves are opposite, unlobed and untoothed, glabrous or finely hairy, and prominently veined, while flowers are small, with four-fold symmetry, and are produced in elongated or flat-stooped clusters. Fruits are berries, containing one or two seeds.