Resinous, conical trees. Branches irregularly whorled, often pendulous; short lateral shoots absent. Winter buds not resinous. Leaves single, alternate, in two ranks or spirally arranged, linear, flattened, with 2 pale bands on abaxial surface. Male cones solitary, axillary, cylindrical. Female cones terminal, subsessile, cylindrical, pendulous or deflexed, maturing in first year; scales woody, persistent; bracts exserted, apex 3-lobed, middle lobe longer and narrower than lateral lobes. Seeds 2 per scale; winged. Cotyledons 5–8.
About 7 species native to North America and Asia, 1 sparingly established in Victoria.
