The Grossulariaceae are characterized by:

• Habit:  shrubs
• Leaves:  alternate, simple, with or without stipules, palmately veined and lobed
• Plants:  synoecious, rarely dioecious
• Inflorescence:  solitary, axillary, cymes or racemes
• Flowers:  perfect, regular
• Perianth:  4-5 sepals, distinct or connate; 4-5 petals, distinct or basally connate
• Stamens:  4-5 (8-10), distinct
• Ovary:  2 carpels, connate; superior to inferior with 1 locule and many parietal ovules or 2-6 locules and many axile ovules; styles 2-6, separate or 1
• Fruit:  berry or capsule