Trees or shrubs. Leaves of adult plants all needle-like and arranged in 3s, or strongly dimorphic with needle-like leaves on main shoots and 4-ranked scale-like leaves on branchlets. Female cones consisting of 3-8 scales which become fleshy and coherent forming a berry-like fruit. Seed usually solitary, thick and hard. Monoecious or dioecious evergreen trees or shrubs.

Leaves opposite and 4-ranked or in 3s, when juvenile needle-like and spreading; when adult scale-like and appressed, or needle- like, or dimorphic with scale-like leaves on branches and needle-like leaves on main shoots. Male cones cylindrical or ovoid with 2-20 anthers borne on peltate scales. Female cones with 4-12 scales in opposite pairs, dry and woody or fleshy when ripe. Seeds winged or not. West Himalayan species, has been recorded from Bhutan possibly erroneously. It differs in being a shrub c 2m; leaves spreading, 5-8 x 1.5-2mm, slightly concave and whitish on upper surface, not decurrent, but stems swollen below leaf insertion; berries ovoid, 3- seeded, glaucous, with 3 rounded scales at apex.