Trees or rarely shrubs; bark brown-gray, longitudinally fissured, scaly; branchlets reddish brown, thick, glabrous; winter buds red-brown, ovoid, large, not resinous. Needles (2 or)3 per bundle, flabellate-triangular or semiorbicular in cross section, 7-30 cm × 1-1.2 mm, stomatal lines present on all surfaces, resin canals 4 or 5, median and marginal, base with persistent sheath. Seed cones shortly pedunculate, green, maturing to brown or chestnut brown, conical-ovoid, 5-11 cm, dehiscent or indehiscent at maturity. Seed scales oblong-ellipsoid, ca. 3 × 1.5 cm; apophyses usually swollen, cross keeled, rarely recurved; umbo slightly sunken or slightly protruded, ending in a minute prickle. Seeds brown, slightly appressed, nearly ovoid or obovoid, 4-5 mm; wing 1.2-1.4 cm. Pollination Apr-May, seed maturity Oct.
Often forming extensive forests, growing on high mountain slopes (sometimes to the tree line), in river basins, valleys and deep river gorges, favouring dry and sunny slopes; at elevations from 400-3,100 metres.
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It is a temperate plant. In Sichuan. In Yunnan.
Can be grown by cuttings, graftings or seedlings. Seeds needs soaking.