Many species produce odorous balms and resins. Family Cupressaceae 135 species, distributed over all continents. Mostly trees and shrubs with evergreen needle-shaped leaves. Essential oils are common. The extra protection offered to the seed has enormous advantages and lead to their concurrent dominance over the gymnosperms.
Many species contain essential oils.
A small family distributed in East Asia. A small family of about 250 species. A large family, whose 2250 species are dominantly distributed over tropics and subtropics. Trees and shrubs. Many species contain essential oils made up from phenylpropanoids and terpenoids.