Medium to large tree. Trunk ridged or somewhat buttressed towards base. Bark reddish brown, peeling in long strips. Crown dense. Juvenile lvs 0.8-1.8-(2.2) cm long, subulate, often red in winter. Adult lvs (from coning branches) 5-15 mm long (excluding adnate, decurrent base), subulate with broad base, directed forwards, shining green; apex acute. ♂ strobili densely clustered at apices of small shoots, 2.5-5 mm long. ♀ cones 1-1.7 cm diam. when open. Bract scale apex pungent. Ovuliferous scales with c. 6 spiny processes 2-3 mm long. Seed 4-5 mm long.