Shrubs, rarely subshrubs or herbs, often prickly. Leaves simple, rarely palmately or pedately compound, 3–5-foliolate; stipules caducous or persistent, free, on twig near base of petiole, broader, rarely narrower, serrate, lobed or dissected, occasionally not divided. Flowers usually bisexual, rarely unisexual, in cymose-panicles, subracemes, or corymbs, rarely flowers several in clusters or solitary. Aggregate fruit adnate to torus, separating from base of torus at maturity, not hollow.

Ninety-two species (71 endemic) in China.