Dioecious evergreen trees or shrubs. Leaves usually narrow, spirally arranged. Male strobili of catkin-like cones; fertile scales ± peltate, bearing 2 pollen-sacs towards base. Female strobilus small with usually 1-2 fertile scales; ovule solitary, soon becoming enclosed by a fleshy false aril. Worldwide: 17 genera and 168 spp., occurring widely in the southern hemisphere, Japan, Central America and tropical African mountains. Zimbabwe: 1 genus and 2 taxa. |