Monoecious scandent shrubs or climbers, perennial, becoming woody with age. Leaves spiral or alternate, simple, entire to (not in Australia, Berberidopsis corallina) sharply dentate, sometimes with hairy domatia, prominently 3-veined from near base, petiolate; petiole pulvinate or not; stipules absent. Inflorescences terminal or axillary, racemose or flowers solitary or in pairs. Flowers bisexual, actinomorphic. Perianth of distinct sepals and petals (Steptothamnus) or of spirally arranged sepaloid tepals grading into inner petaloid tepals (Berberidopsis); in Steptothamnus sepals 5, imbricate, free, persistent; petals 5, free, caducous; in Berberidopsis bracts and perianth segments (tepals) 13–18, free, caducous. Disc extra-staminal, lobed, persistent in fruit (Berberidopsis) or absent (Steptothamnus). Stamens 6–13 in a single whorl (Berberidopsis) or numerous and densely packed on torus (Steptothamnus); filaments Berberidopsis) or filiform and longer than anthers (Steptothamnus); anthers terasporangiate, dehiscing longitudinally. Ovary superior, 1-locular; placentation parietal; ovules numerous. Fruit a berry, with persistent style. Seeds with fleshy or leathery exotesta; endosperm copious.
Berberidopsis corallina (Coral Plant, Chilean Coral Vine) is cultivated in temperate areas, valued for its red pendant flowers.
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