Large tree; bark dark grey-brown, peeling in thin flakes, deep pink beneath. Semi-juvenile lvs (on lowest branches of mature trees) somewhat flattened, 3-11 mm long, linear-subulate, acute, incurved. Adult lvs (from coning branches) ± flattened, 5-9 mm long, ovate or ovate-elliptic, ± obtuse, slightly keeled, strongly imbricate, incurved. ♂ strobili 3-5 cm long, narrow-cylindric. ♀ cones towards top of tree, 9-13 cm diam., broadly oblong-ellipsoid or subglobose, green at maturity; emergent part of scale (prickle) 6-10 mm long and c. 2 mm wide at 1/2 way to apex, pungent, directed forward.