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.