May be simple or compound. Found in lycophytes such as Selaginella and Lycopodium, sphenophytes such as Equisetum, gymnosperms such as cycad, conifers, gnetophytes and the pollen producing structures of Gingko. The term cone is often used for strobili that are woody. Flowers are sometimes considered bisexual strobili. Some flowering plants such as Alnus have inflorescences called catkins that resemble strobili, but are not.

A reproductive shoot system (PO:0025082) consisting of a number of sporophylls (PO:0009026) or plant ovule (PO:0020003)-bearing modified leaves (PO:0025034) grouped terminally on a stem (PO:0009047).