The female seed cones develop from axillary buds. They are often solitary but may also be paired. The cones consist of several basal sterile cone scales and a single apical fertile scale. The basal scales are fused. The fertile scale has one seed producing ovule. The single seed of the cone is covered by a modified ovuliferous scale known as the epimatium. The epimatium becomes fleshy and drupe-like at maturity. It varies in shape from elliptic to ovoid or pyriform and may be red, violet or purplish brown in color.