Plants 1-3 m. Stems: spines at nodes occasional, 1(-3), 1-10 mm. Leaf blades broadly ovate, sometimes lateral lobes again less deeply cut into larger distal and smaller proximal segments, 2-8 cm, base rounded to cordate, surfaces glabrous (except for soft ciliation) or sparsely pubescent; lobes oblong-rounded, margins deeply crenate-serrate. Inflorescences solitary flowers or 2-4-flowered racemes; peduncle 5-12 mm. Flowers: hypanthium greenish white, tubular-campanulate, 2.5-3.5 mm, glabrous; sepals spreading to curved-reflexed, white or greenish to purplish or reddish tinged, oblong-lanceolate to narrowly lanceolate, 2.5-5 mm, apex obtuse to rounded, surfaces glabrous; petals cuneate-obovate or oblong; styles connate 1/3-3/4 their lengths, pilose-villous in proximal 1/2 or entire length. Berries greenish or reddish purple, globose, 7-11 mm. 2n = 16.

Flowering Apr-Jun. Stream banks, thickets, open or wooded mountain ridges; 700-3300 m; Alta., B.C.; Ariz., Calif., Colo., Idaho, Mont., Nev., N.Mex., Oreg., Utah, Wash., Wyo.