常(chang)綠喬木或(huo)(huo)灌木;小枝不規則(ze)互生(sheng)(sheng)(sheng),基(ji)(ji)部有(you)多數或(huo)(huo)少數宿存(cun)的(de)(de)(de)芽(ya)鱗,稀全部脫落;冬芽(ya)芽(ya)鱗覆(fu)瓦狀排(pai)列(lie),背部縱(zong)脊明顯(xian)或(huo)(huo)不明顯(xian)。葉條形,螺旋狀著生(sheng)(sheng)(sheng),基(ji)(ji)部扭轉排(pai)成(cheng)二列(lie),直或(huo)(huo)鐮狀,下(xia)延生(sheng)(sheng)(sheng)長,上(shang)面(mian)中(zhong)脈隆(long)起,下(xia)面(mian)有(you)兩條淡灰色、灰綠色或(huo)(huo)淡黃色的(de)(de)(de)氣孔(kong)帶,葉內無(wu)樹脂道。雌雄(xiong)異株,球花單生(sheng)(sheng)(sheng)葉腋(ye);雄(xiong)球花圓球形,有(you)梗(geng)(geng),基(ji)(ji)部具覆(fu)瓦狀排(pai)列(lie)的(de)(de)(de)苞(bao)片(pian),雄(xiong)蕊6-14枚,盾狀,花藥4-9,輻(fu)射排(pai)列(lie);雌球花幾無(wu)梗(geng)(geng),基(ji)(ji)部有(you)多數覆(fu)瓦狀排(pai)列(lie)的(de)(de)(de)苞(bao)片(pian),上(shang)端2-3對苞(bao)片(pian)交叉對生(sheng)(sheng)(sheng),胚(pei)珠(zhu)(zhu)直立,單生(sheng)(sheng)(sheng)于總花軸上(shang)部側生(sheng)(sheng)(sheng)短軸之(zhi)頂端的(de)(de)(de)苞(bao)腋(ye),基(ji)(ji)部托(tuo)(tuo)以圓盤狀的(de)(de)(de)珠(zhu)(zhu)托(tuo)(tuo),受精后珠(zhu)(zhu)托(tuo)(tuo)發(fa)育(yu)成(cheng)肉(rou)質(zhi)(zhi)、杯狀、紅(hong)(hong)色的(de)(de)(de)假(jia)種(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)皮(pi)。種(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)子(zi)(zi)堅(jian)果狀,當年成(cheng)熟(shu),生(sheng)(sheng)(sheng)于杯狀肉(rou)質(zhi)(zhi)的(de)(de)(de)假(jia)種(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)皮(pi)中(zhong),稀生(sheng)(sheng)(sheng)于近膜質(zhi)(zhi)盤狀的(de)(de)(de)種(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)托(tuo)(tuo)(即未發(fa)育(yu)成(cheng)肉(rou)質(zhi)(zhi)假(jia)種(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)皮(pi)的(de)(de)(de)珠(zhu)(zhu)托(tuo)(tuo))之(zhi)上(shang),種(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)臍明顯(xian),成(cheng)熟(shu)時肉(rou)質(zhi)(zhi)假(jia)種(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)皮(pi)紅(hong)(hong)色,有(you)短梗(geng)(geng)或(huo)(huo)幾無(wu)梗(geng)(geng);子(zi)(zi)葉2枚,發(fa)芽(ya)時出土。
主要用途
本屬木材(cai)(cai)的邊材(cai)(cai)窄(zhai),與心材(cai)(cai)區別明顯,無(wu)樹(shu)脂(zhi)(zhi)道及樹(shu)脂(zhi)(zhi)細胞,紋理(li)均(jun)勻(yun),結構細致(zhi),硬度大,防(fang)腐(fu)力強,韌性強。為(wei)優良的建筑(zhu)、橋(qiao)梁、家(jia)具、器材(cai)(cai)等用材(cai)(cai)。惟(wei)產(chan)量少,一般僅作細木加工、船槳(jiang)、拱(gong)形制品、車旋(xuan)、雕(diao)刻、樂器及箱(xiang)板等用;種(zhong)子可(ke)(ke)榨油。葉常綠,深綠色,假種(zhong)皮肉質紅色,頗為(wei)美觀,可(ke)(ke)作庭園樹(shu)。本屬樹(shu)種(zhong)耐蔭(yin)性強,在(zai)天然林中(zhong)生(sheng)(sheng)長緩慢,分布星散,野生(sheng)(sheng)樹(shu)木日漸減(jian)少。惟(wei)木材(cai)(cai)優良,宜選用造(zao)林,加強撫育管(guan)理(li),可(ke)(ke)促進其加速生(sheng)(sheng)長,以生(sheng)(sheng)產(chan)優良木材(cai)(cai)。