The dogwood family is represented in Alaska by 1 shrub and 2 low herbs or sub-shrubs.  The leaves are paired, have no teeth and long curved side veins.  Flowers are crowded and very small.  They have 4 showy petal like bracts that are often mistaken for petals, 4 sepals, 4 petals, 4 stamens and 1 ovary.  The fruit has 1 seed inside considered a drupe.