Monoecious trees. Branchlets flattened (arranged in one plane), except in young stages (also permanently in some cvs); ultimate shoots terete or flattened. Juvenile lvs needle-like, subulate. Adult lvs scale-like, opposite, decussate with lateral and facial pairs, lacking prominent, whitish resinous glands. Cones and strobili terminal on short shoots. ♂ strobili (cones) ovoid to oblong, small, yellow or sometimes red; stamens numerous. ♀ cones globose, < 12 mm diam., usually ripening in first year, rarely early in second, then deciduous. Scales 6-12, not whorled, peltate with mucronate boss or umbo in middle, separating to release seeds; ovules and seeds 2-5 on each scale. Seeds winged; cotyledons 2.