They are often spiny, and sometimes completely reduced to spines. Stipules are usually lacking. The flowers are usually radially symmetric, bisexual, and have a perianth that is often 3-merous. Both the calyx and the corolla are made up of separate parts. The androecium consists of 4 stamens with anther sacs that open by flaps that are hinged at the top.
Pollen grains are tricolpate, or a modification thereof.
The gynoecium consists of a single, simple carpel that has a superior ovary and basal to parietal placentation. There are usually many ovules. The fruit is a berry. The species that is native to northern Utah is known either as Berberis repens or Mahonia repens. Which is used depends on whether one considers having pinnately compound, rather than simple, leaves merits recognition of a separate genus.