Trees to 20 m, rarely shrubs, monoecious; branches spreading or ascending; branchlets usually curved, 4-angled, 1-1.7 mm in diam. Leaves both scalelike and needlelike; needlelike leaves present on young plants, in whorls of 3, 4.5-6 mm, ridged abaxially, apex sharply pointed; scalelike leaves decussate, 4-ranked, closely appressed, triangular-rhombic, gibbous, 1-2 mm, abaxial gland basal, inconspicuous, orbicular or ovate, slightly depressed leaf apex obtuse. Pollen cones subglobose, ca. 2 mm; microsporophylls 6-8, each with 2 or 3 pollen sacs. Seed cones erect, black or bluish black when ripe, ovoid or subglobose, 4-8(-10) mm, 1-seeded. Seeds irregularly ovoid-globose, 3.5-7 × 3-5 mm, ridged and pitted.
High montane to subalpine coniferous forest, sometimes in more or less pure juniper groves, in the ecotone between forest and alpine meadows; at elevations from 2,100-4,600 metres
Can be grown by cuttings or seedlings. Seeds needs soaking.
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