Evergreen or deciduous shrubs, sometimes small subshrubs, usually glabrous or nearly so; wood yellow. Lvs on short or spur shoots simple, often with spiny margins; lvs on long shoots usually modified to form (1)-3-(5)-partite spines. Fls solitary, or in fascicles, racemes (sometimes pseudo-umbellate) or panicles, bracteate, axillary. Perianth segments 12 or 15, consisting of 6 or 9 sepals and 6 petals, imbricate, pale yellow to orange; innermost petals with nectariferous glands at base. Stamens 6, usually sensitive to touch; stigma sessile or on short style. Berry red or black, often with glaucous bloom, (1)-2-(several)-seeded.

Glabrous evergreen shrubs, occasionally tree-like; wood yellow. Lvs never modified to form spines, imparipinnate, rarely 3-foliolate; leaflets usually with spiny margins. Fls usually numerous in racemes and panicles arising fasciculately from the axils of bud scales. Perianth yellow; segments 15, sometimes the outer 3 bract-like. Stamens 6. Ovary with few ovules; style 0 or short. Berry black, usually with glaucous bloom.