Dioecious or monoecious shrubs or trees. Leaves evergreen, decussate or ternately whorled, needle-like and spreading or scale-like and appressed, with a dorsal gland. Reproductive organs on separate branches; cones lateral or terminal, with decussate or ternately whorled scales. Staminate cones globular or ovoid, with imbricated, suborbicular scales each with 3-6 pollen sacs. Ovulate cones with several sterile lower bracts and 3-10 upper scales with solitary erect ovules; mature cones fleshy, berry-like, containing 1-10 free, hard, angular seeds. Cotyledons 2.