Berberidacaeae

Plant Sex: Flowers bisexual.

Flowers: Actinomorphic, often 3-merous. Sepals and petals distinct, imbricate; petals in two series, often with nectaries on inner series. Sepal-like bracts subtend the flowers in Berberis Stamens TACTILE in Berberis (move when touched); anthers open by flaps. Gynoecium of one carpel. Placentation basal or parietal.

Inflorescence: Solitary and scapose (Jeffersonia) to panicles and racemes.

Fruits: Berries and follicles. Seeds"Gymnospermous" in Caulophyllum, i.e. the seed bursts through the ovary wall and develops exposed.

Habit: Trees, shrubs, and herbaceous perennials.

Leaves: Alternate or opposite; simple or pinnately compound, ternate, or 2X ternate; peltate.

Examples:
Berberis (barberries, including former Mahonia, Oregon grape)

B. thunbergii. Flowering shoots, flowers from top and bottom, flower L.S., flower dissected,
B. meadia. Leaves - top and bottom, flowering shoot with young fruits, fruiting shoots

Podophyllum (mayapple)

P. peltatum. Flowering shoot, flower, flower L.S., fruits

Caulophyllum thalictroides (blue cohosh)

habit of plant in flower, flower close-up, young fruits showing ovules bursting through ovary wall

Epimedium

E. X rubrum. Flowers of this cultivated hybrid.