Shrubs erect or procumbent, or small trees to 12 m tall; branches ascending or horizontally spreading; branchlets densely arranged, straight or curved, usually short, not angled. Leaves in whorls of 3, spreading or ascending, sometimes nearly appressed, needlelike, straight or slightly curved, (2.5-) 5-10 × 1-1.5 mm, slightly concave, with white stomatal bands adaxially, obtusely ridged with longitudinal, thin groove on ridge or at base abaxially, base decurrent, apex acute or acuminate. Pollen cones ovoid, 3-4 mm; microsporophylls 9-12, each with 3 pollen sacs. Seed cones black or bluish black when ripe, ovoid or subglobose, 4-8 × 4-6 mm, 1-seeded. Seeds ovoid, 3.5-6 × 2-5 mm, ridged, with resin pits.
Subalpine coniferous forest, mixed woodland and thickets to alpine meadows, on calcareous to siliceous rocks, often predominant on moraines, scree slopes or rocky ridges, but also on gravelly flood plains; at elevations from 1,340-4,850 metres
Can be grown by cuttings or seedlings. Seeds needs soaking.
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