A tree to 16 m tall and 40 cm dbh. Bark smooth pale grey at first, becoming thinly scaly grey-brown on mature trees. Crown broad, with irregular branches. Leaves blue-green, in fascicles of 5, sheath mostly deciduous but the small basal sheath scales persisting; 6-12 cm long, about 0.8-1 mm thick, with white stomatal bands on the inner faces and a glossy green outer face.
