Shrubs or trees with long or short, slender often weeping branches jointed at nodes. Lvs reduced to many-toothed sheaths surrounding nodes. Fls unisexual; ♂ fls usually in terminal spikes with shortened internodes and bracts fused into a cup, each with 1 stamen, 2 perianth segments and 2 bracts; anther exserted from bracts, 2-locular. ♀ fls in dense, globose to cylindric, sessile or shortly pedunculate heads usually terminal on lateral branches, with each fl. subtended by 2 bracts; ovary superior, 1-locular; style short, the 2 stigmatic branches long-extended; ovules 2-(4), ascending. Fr. in a cone of woody persistent bracts opening at maturity; each fr. a 1-seeded, flattened, indehiscent, terminally winged samara.