The Families of Gymnosperms Monkey Puzzles, Norfolk Island Pine,
Kauri, Candelabra Tree. Vegetative. Evergreen (in some, the
leaves remain green for up to fifteen years); trees. Resinous
(with resin canals in stem medullary rays and cortex, and in the
leaves). Main branches whorled. The leafy branchlets not
flattened. Mature leaves broad and flat (often broad-based, with
many parallel veins), or linear; acicular, or relatively soft
(mostly); not clustered; alternate (although the main branches
are usually whorled). Longitudinal resin canals present in the
leaves. Reproductive organization. Monoecious (Agathis,
usually), or dioecious (Araucaria). The ovules borne in female
cones. The female cones woody (almost spherical). The seed-cone
scales spirally arranged; deciduous, the cones disintegrating at
maturity (the seed either shed attached to the cone scale, with
the latter serving as wings, or detaching from the cone scale
along with a wing); woody. The ovules borne proximal-adaxially
on the seed-cone scales.