Family PODOCARPACEAE
Description: Trees or shrubs.
Leaves needle-like, scale-like or oblong, flat, mostly alternate; dioecious or rarely monoecious.
Male cones usually terminal, mostly in clusters with a few bracts at the base, ovoid or cylindrical, with spirally arranged sporophylls. Female cones terminal or axillary on specialized shoots, with one or few scales each bearing 1, or rarely 2 ovules.
Fruiting cones variable, often part becoming fleshy.
Distribution and occurrence: World: 14 genera, c. 150 species, mostly Southern Hemisphere extending north to Japan, Central America & West Indies. Australia: 6 genera, 16 species (1 species W.A., 15 species E coast), Qld, N.S.W., Vic., Tas., W.A.
External links:
Angiosperm Phylogeny Website (Family: Podocarpaceae, Order: Pinales)
Wikipedia
Text by G. J. Harden & J. Thompson
Taxon concept:
| | Key to the genera | |
| 1 | Leaves >5 mm long; fruiting female cone scales united with the axis to form a fleshy receptacle | Podocarpus |
| Leaves <4 mm long; fruiting female cone scales slightly thickened at the base but not fleshy at maturity | Pherosphaera |
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