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

In earth's history Taxodiaceae were widespread. They are known since the Jurassic and can be found as fossil from Tertiary times.