Deciduous tree. Shoots short or long, with different leaf arrangements. Leaves of two kinds: on the short shoots they are simple, alternate, palmately veined, on the long shoots they are opposite and pinnately veined; stipules present, small. Flowers unisexual, on separate plants. Petals absent. Male flowers axillary, solitary or in clusters, sepals 4, stamens mostly 15-20, filaments thin. Female flowers in clusters of 2-6. Carpels 4-6, free, each with 1 chamber containing many ovules. Ovary superior. Fruit a follicle, a small curved pod; seeds many, flattened and winged.

A distinctive family; affinities with other families uncertain.

Leaves of 2 kinds; unisexual flowers without petals; characteristic fruit with winged seeds.

1 genus of 2 species from China and Japan.

Swamy & Bailey (1949), Spongberg (1979).

Source: Spencer, R. (1997). Cercidiphyllaceae. In: Spencer, R.. Horticultural Flora of South-eastern Australia. Volume 2. Flowering plants. Dicotyledons. Part 1. The identification of garden and cultivated plants. University of New South Wales Press.