The Vitaceae are characterized by:

• Habit:  woody (sometimes only slightly so) vines, seldom shrubs or trees; stems often jointed or with swollen nodes
• Leaves:  alternate; simple or pinnately or palmately compound; stipules petiolar or none; pellucid dots often present
• Plants:  synoecious or monoecious, rarely dioecious
• Inflorescence:  cymose, arising opposite a leaf
• Flowers:  perfect or imperfect, regular, conspicuous ring-like or lobed nectary
• Perianth:  4-5 (rarely 3-7) sepals, distinct or basally connate; 4-5 (3-7, 0) petals, distinct or apically connate and forming a cap
• Stamens:  equal in number to and opposite the petals
• Ovary:  2 (rarely 3-6) carpels and locules, connate; superior; placentation axile; ovules 1-2 per locule; style 1, short, discoid or capitate
• Fruit:  berry