Habit: tree, evergreen

Sexuality: monoecious, dioecious

Branchlets: subopposite or subwhorled, base with leaf scars or bud scales

Branches: whorled

Important diagnostics: with twisted leaf bases

Leaves: Position: 2-ranked, decussate

Leaves: Shape: linear or lanceolate, linear-lanceolate

Pollen Cone: Position: axillary, solitary

Pollen Cone: Shape: ellipsoid

Seed Cones: Position: axillary

Seed Cones: Bract scales: decussate

Seeds: Shape: drupelike

Cotyledons number: 2

Germination: hypogeal