Monoecious or dioecious, evergreen, resinous trees or shrubs. Juvenile leaves, when present, needle-like and spirally arranged. Adult leaves small, usually scale-like, adpressed, in decussate pairs, or sometimes in threes. Male strobili globose or oblong, with relatively few, decussate microsporophylls bearing 3–5 microsporangia on lower surface; pollen grains often rounded. Cones globose or ovoid and erect, maturing in 1 to 2 years, relatively small; seed-scales relatively few, woody or somewhat fleshy and coalescent, completely adnate to the subtending bract, bearing 2 to many erect ovules on the upper surface. Seeds winged or not. Cotyledons 2–4, relatively small.

Contains about 125 species in 20 genera, 9 of which are monotypic. Occurs throughout the major land masses except the Arctic and Antarctic and on many of the islands. Many species are cultivated for ornament.

There is much disagreement over the taxonomy of the genera in this family, particularly between European and American schools of thought. We have not brought it up to date. We have, however, added all the new names so that users can choose the names they wish. Those who wish to work it out for themselves should read the following.