Trees, occasionally shrubs, dioecious, rarely monoecious; branchlets loosely arranged, spreading, straight, stout, terete, 1-2 mm in diam. Leaves both scalelike and needlelike; needlelike leaves usually present on young plants, rarely present on adult plants, decussate or in whorls of 3, directed forward, 3-7 mm, concave adaxially, convex abaxially; scalelike leaves decussate, closely appressed, ± rhombic-ovate, 1-2.5 mm, abaxial gland near center. Pollen cones ± ellipsoid, 3-5 mm; microsporophylls 8-10, each with 3 or 4 pollen sacs. Seed cones light brown to bluish black when ripe, glaucous, ± obovoid-globose or nearly triangular and widest near apex, 2-or 3-seeded. Seeds 3-6 × 2-3.5 mm, angular ovoid, apices often diverging.
Mixed conifer forest (usually on open rocky slopes or outcrops), juniper woodland, glacial moraines (often forming groves), subalpine scrub, river terraces, moraines, scree slopes and other dry, stony ground; at elevations from 1,550-4,350 metres
Can be grown by cuttings or seedlings. Seeds needs soaking.
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