Trees evergreen, monoecious; branches short, spreading. Leaves dimorphic: scalelike leaves scattered on branchlets or clustered at apex of branchlets, small; connate leaves formed by the complete fusion of two leaves, arising from the axils of scalelike leaves and spreading radially at apex of branchlets, linear, flat, leathery, with a deep furrow both adaxially and abaxially. Pollen cones clustered at apex of branches; microsporophylls numerous, spirally arranged. Seed cones ripening in 2nd year, terminal, shortly pedunculate, with numerous, spirally arranged cone scales; bracts nearly enclosed by cone scales. Seeds 5-9 per scale, ovoid, with a narrow wing. Cotyledons 2. 2n = 20.

One genus and one species: Japan; introduced in China.

Chen Chia-jui & Tsui Hung-pin. 1978. Sciadopitys. In: Cheng Wan-chün & Fu Li-kuo, eds., Fl. Reipubl. Popularis Sin. 7: 283-284.

(Authors: Fu Liguo (傅立国 Fu Li-kuo) , Yu Yongfu (于永福) ; Aljos Farjon)