Small to medium-sized, widespreading, often dense, ± erect tree. Bark deeply fissured, dark grey on surface, reddish brown beneath. Shoots greenish brown or brown, ± shining, glabrous. Buds cylindric or conic-cylindric, purplish, resinous; scales usually tightly appressed, rarely the apices free. Lvs usually 2, very rarely 3 or 4 per fascicle, 7-15 cm × c. 1-1.5 mm, ± curved except on vigorous erect leader shoots, greyish green or bluish green when fresh, rather rigid and pungently pointed; resin canals median; sheaths to c. 2 cm long initially, becoming much shorter later. ♂ strobili broad-cylindric or subglobose, 5-15 mm long. Conelets subsessile; scales with long prickly mucros. Mature cones mostly in clusters of 4-5, sessile or subsessile, backward pointing, remaining closed on the tree for many years, (5)-6-9 × (3.5)-4-6 cm when closed, ovoid, asymmetric, chestnut-brown when ripe; umbos with rigid prickles well-developed on the large convex apophyses of the lower upper side. Seed wing asymmetric, ± oblong, 1-2 cm long.