Trees to 50 m tall; trunk to 1 m d.b.h.; bark dark gray, scaly; crown pyramidal; branchlets initially yellow or pale brownish yellow, turning yellow-gray or gray in 2nd or 3rd year, densely pubescent; winter buds conical, resinous, scales not reflexed, or slightly opening at apex. Leaves spreading radially, or closely appressed forward on upper side of branchlets, ± spreading on lower side, linear, straight or slightly curved, broadly rhombic in cross section, ± dorsiventrally flattened, 7-12 × 1.5-1.8 mm, keeled on both sides, stomatal lines 4-6 along each surface adaxially, sometimes also 1 or 2 incomplete lines abaxially, apex obtuse-mucronate. Seed cones purplish black or reddish purple, cylindric-ovoid or ellipsoid, 2.5-4(-6) × 1.7-3 cm. Seed scales loosely arranged, rhombic-ovate, 1.3-1.6 × ca. 1.3 cm at middle of cones, ± papery, distal margin thinner, narrowed into a triangle, undulate, erose-denticulate. Seeds ca. 9 mm including brown, purple-spotted wing. Cotyledons 5-7, 1-1.3 cm. Pollination Apr, seed maturity Oct.
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A tree. It grows 50 m tall. The branches are 1 m across. The bark is dark grey and scaly. The crown is like a pyramid. The small branches are yellow then turn grey. They are densely hairy. The leaves spread out and on the upper side of the branches press forward. They are flattened. They are 7-12 mm long by 1.5-1.7 mm wide. They are keeled on both surfaces. The seed cones are purplish black and long and oval. They are 2.5-4 cm long by 1.7-3 cm wide. The seeds are 9 mm across. They are brown with a purple spotted wing.
Forests, 3000-3600 metres in N.W. Sichuan and S. Ghansu. Mountains, predominantly on north facing slopes, at elevations of 2600-3800 metres.
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It is a temperate plant. In China they grow in mountains on N facing slopes between 2600-3800 m altitude. It suits hardiness zones 7-10.
Can be grown by cuttings, graftings or seedlings. Seeds needs stratification.
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