Cornaceae

Opposite, simple leaves with characteristically curved side-veins that arch to follow the leaf margin toward the tip; small flowers cluster tightly into a dense head, often surrounded by large showy petal-like bracts that do the real work of attracting pollinators.

In the most ornamental members, it is not the tiny true flowers but four or more large petal-like bracts surrounding them that create the plant's famous springtime floral display.