Large resinous evergreen trees with rough, furrowed bark when mature; branches irregularly whorled. Short shoots 0. Buds narrow, very acute, glabrous, not resinous. Lvs single, spirally arranged, ± 2-ranked (except on young erect shoots), linear, green and grooved above and with 2 whitish or glaucous stomatic bands below; resin ducts marginal, 2; vascular bundle 1. ♂ strobili (cones) axillary, catkin-like. ♀ cones terminal on short branches, maturing in first year, composed of numerous, free, 3-lobed bract scales which are prominently exserted in mature cone, and shorter, imbricate ovuliferous scales; ovules 2 on each scale. Mature cone pendulous, falling whole. Seed with large wing.