Deciduous,
some species spiny, some not spiny, shrubs; leaves alternate, simple leaves;
flowers 2 to several in bracteate racemes; calyx mostly persistent and more
showy than the petals; fruit a berry-like capsule.
One
genus in our area, Ribes, has alternate palmately-veined leaves; petals smaller
than the sepals, usually narrowed to a claw; fruit a globose, or nearly so,
yellowish, reddish, bluish or black berry, usually tasty; some species spiny
(gooseberries) others (currants) not.