Erect tree up to 20m, 100cm in diameter, bark and stems reddish brown;leaves needle-shape foliage, spirally arranged or appearing 2-ranked, linear, 1.0-2.5cm × 0.2- 0.4cm, a short spinescent apex, base cuneate, dark green, the lower side with 2 tawny stomatal bands occupying nearly the entire area, deciduous after 2-3 years; Dioecious (occasionally monoecious), pollen cones ovoid with 6 bracts, 8-10 pollen sacs, seed cones with 10 bracts; Seed aril light-red flesh cup. Seeds 5 mm long 
2n=24.
Pollination April
Seed maturity Aug-Sep
Distribution China (Heilongjiang, E Jilin, Liaoning, Shaanxi), Far east Russia (Kurile Islands, Primorye, Sakhalin), Japan (Hokkaido to Kyushu); Hamkyong-do, Ryangang-do, Jagang-do, Pyongan-do to Ganwaon-do including Ulleung and Jeju  

Ecological characteristics Cold and humid sites in subalpine 

Japan Flora: Erect tree with spreading or ascending branches; leaves spirally ar­ranged or appearing 2-ranked, linear, 1.5-2.5 cm. long, 2-3 mm. wide, rather abruptly narrowed to a short spinescent apex, abruptly short-petiolate at base, dark green with the mid­rib conspicuous above when dry, the lower side with 2 tawny stomatai bands occupying nearly the entire area except the margins and midrib; aril scarlet when mature. Mountains.

Hokkaido, Honshu (centr. distr. northw. and Yamato), Shi­koku, Kyushu.

var. luteobaccata Miyabe & Tatew. Aril yellowish around a greenish seed.

var. nana Rehder  Depressed low shrub with ascending, densely arranged branches and branchlets; leaves usually only spirally disposed and not appearing 2- ranked. Mountains; Honshu (Japan Sea side); much cul­tivated.