Size: tree, 40-80' average height at maturity
Buds: rounded, glossy, dark red, slightly resinous
Leaves: deciduous, spurs that bear new shoots are somewhat alternate or subopposite, .75-1.25", needle-like, 3-sided, strongly keeled, in clusters of 12-30, bright blue-green, yellowish in fall
Twigs: short, spur-like branches on all but new wood, finely lined or ridged below decurrent leaf scars, 1 bundle scar, scales glabrous and glossy, branching irregular
Flowers: monoecious, male flowers yellow, females rosy
Fruit: cones smaller and with fewer scales than other species, .5-1", cone scales recurved at tip, glabrous and glossy, cones persistent, green or violet when young
Bark: fine scaly
