Small or medium-sized, widespreading tree (to c. 20 m high in cultivation), with fairly dense habit. Bark thick, fissured, with reddish brown below surface; surface dark reddish brown or reddish on upper trunk, otherwise grey. Shoots glaucous for at least one season, glabrous, rough with prominent old lf bases. Buds cylindric, shining brown, not resinous; scales spreading in upper part. Lvs 3 per fascicle, 13-28-(33) cm × 0.7-0.9 mm, very slender and flexible, pendulous, grass-green; resin canals median; sheaths persistent, usually 1.5-2.5 cm long in mature lvs. ♂ strobili to 1 cm long, cylindric-ovoid. Conelets stalked; umbo mucronate. Mature cones persistent and remaining closed for several years, pointing backward, sessile or very shortly stalked, usually several to a cluster, 6-9 × 3-4 cm when closed, ± cylindric-ovoid or cylindric-oblong, light brown, usually curved; base asymmetric; apophyses flat except for sunken umbo with very small, often deciduous, prickle. Seed small; wing to c. 1.5 cm long, broad and asymmetric.