This is a genus of about 15 species of
deciduous shrubs known mostly for their showy fruit. In fact,
the name comes from the Greek words for "to bear together" and
"fruit" referring to the berries which are packed together
closely.
They are primarily native to North America and Central
America with at least one coming from China. The genus was first identified by
Lewis and Clark Expedition to the
Pacific
Northwest of the
United States in 1805.