Actinidiaceae Gilg & Werderm.

Trees, shrubs or woody vines, dioecious or functionally dioecious; indumentum often of multicellular branched and unbranched trichomes. Leaves alternate or spirally arranged, simple, usually toothed; stipules absent. Inflorescence an axillary cyme or panicle, sometimes flowers solitary, sometimes borne on the old wood (cauliflorous). Flowers actinomorphic. Sepals (3–) 5 (–8), usually imbricate in bud. Petals (3–) 5 (–9), free or shortly united at base, imbricate in bud, usually white or pink, rarely red, sometimes strongly scented. Stamens (10–) 20–240, often in clusters opposite petals, sometimes fused to base of corolla. Anthers opening by longitudinal slits or apical pores. Ovary superior, disc absent, usually 3–5-locular; ovules numerous, placentation axile. Styles distinct or basally connate, equal in number to locules. Fruit a berry or leathery loculicidal capsule (not in Australia), frequently edible. Seeds numerous, reticulo-areolate, embedded in a mucilaginous pulp.

Includes the economically significant Actinidia chinensis which produces the edible Kiwifruit or Chinese Gooseberry in its many forms and cultivars. Fruit of species of Saurauia are also eaten.