Taxodiaceae is a formerly recognized conifer family. It is today recognised as a paraphyletic grade of basal lineages within the Cupressaceae. It contains the following living genera:
- Athrotaxis
- Cryptomeria
- Cunninghamia
- Glyptostrobus
- Metasequoia
- Sequoia
- Sequoiadendron
- Taiwania
- Taxodium
As proposed, genera of the former Taxodiaceae are grouped in the following subfamilies within the larger Cupressaceae:
- Athrotaxidoideae Quinn (Athrotaxis)
- Cunninghamioideae (Sieb. & Zucc.) Quinn (Cunninghamia)
- Sequoioideae (Luerss.) Quinn (Sequoia, Sequoiadendron, and Metasequoia)
- Taiwanioideae (Hayata) Quinn (Taiwania)
- Taxodioideae Endl. ex K. Koch (Taxodium, Glyptostrobus, and Cryptomeria)[1]
Evolution
![](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/ed/Fossil-leaf_Taxodium_dubium_Tertiary_Germany.jpg/153px-Fossil-leaf_Taxodium_dubium_Tertiary_Germany.jpg)
In earth's history Taxodiaceae were widespread. They are known since the Jurassic and can be found as fossil from Tertiary times.