Shrubs erect or procumbent, up to 2 m, rarely small trees, dioecious; ultimate branchlets densely arranged, mostly straight, usually 4-angled, sometimes terete. Leaves both scalelike and needlelike; needlelike leaves usually present on young trees, in whorls of 3, ascending, 3-8 mm, apex acuminate; scalelike leaves decussate or sometimes in whorls of 3, closely appressed, rhombic, 1.2-2 mm, abaxial gland central, or basal in needle-like leaves, oblong or linear, depressed, leaf apex obtuse. Pollen cones subglobose or ovoid, 2-3 mm; microsporophylls 6-8, each with 2or 3 pollen sacs.

Seed cones erect, black-brown when ripe, subglobose or ovoid, 6-13 × 5-8 mm, 1(or 2) seeded. Seeds ovoid, slightly flattened, 5-6 × ca. 4 mm, smooth or obscurely ridged.