Trees dioecious, to 10--15(--30) m, single-stemmed; crown rounded. Bark brown, exfoliating in rectangular plates (rarely in thin strips in f. sperryi , but then branchlets flaccid), that of small branchlets (5--10 mm diam.) smooth, that of larger branchlets exfoliating in plates. Branches spreading to ascending; branchlets erect, rarely flaccid, 3--4-sided in cross section, ca. 2/3 or less as wide as length of scalelike leaves. Leaves green, but sometimes appearing silvery when glaucous, abaxial gland ovate to elliptic, conspicuous, exudate absent, margins denticulate (at 20´); whip leaves 3--6 mm, not glaucous adaxially; scalelike leaves 1--2 mm, not overlapping, keeled, apex acute to mucronate, appressed. Seed cones maturing in 2 years, of 2 distinct sizes, with straight to curved peduncle, globose, 8--15 mm, reddish tan to dark reddish brown, glaucous, fibrous to obscurely woody, with (3--)4--5(--6) seeds. Seeds 6--9 mm.
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