The catkin like male cones are 2–5 millimetres (0.079–0.197 in) long, and shed pollen in the early spring.

The developmental origin of the aril is unclear, but it may represent a fused pair of swollen leaves.

[1] The mature aril is brightly coloured, soft, juicy and sweet, and is eaten by birds which then disperse the hard seed undamaged in their droppings.

[7] The oldest confirmed member of Taxaceae is Palaeotaxus rediviva from the earliest Jurassic (Hettangian) of Sweden.

[8] The broadly defined Taxaceae (including Cephalotaxus) comprises six extant genera and about 30 species overall.

Phylogenetic evidence strongly supports a very close relationship between Cephalotaxus and other members of Taxaceae,[9][10][11] and morphological differences between them are not substantial.

Previous recognition of two distinct families, Taxaceae and Cephalotaxaceae (e.g.,[12]), was based on relatively minor morphological details: Taxaceae (excluding Cephalotaxus) has smaller mature seeds growing to 5–8 millimetres (0.20–0.31 in) in 6–8 months, that are not fully enclosed by the aril; in contrast, Cephalotaxus seeds have a longer maturation period (from 18–20 months), and larger mature seeds (12–40 millimetres (0.47–1.57 in)) fully enclosed by the aril.