A large shrub or small to medium-sized tree, rarely exceeding 20 m tall, in cultivation often forming multiple stems; habit dense, usually broadly conical with ascending branches from bare stems; bark thin, reddish-brown, exfoliating in thin longitudinal strips; branches with the foliage held in vertically aligned sprays that always point upwards. Leaves persistent, scale-like, and arranged in decussate pairs; yellow-green, distinctly grooved. Individual leaves are typically 1/16 to 1/8 inch long, somewhat flattened, lacking conspicuous stomatal bands. Foliage arranged in flattened sprays. Flowers monoecious; male cones are small and inconspicuous; female cones are small, bluish-green and borne near the tips of branches. Fruits small fleshy cones (3/4 inch long), tight scales with horned points, blue-green and covered in waxy bloom. Seeds ovate, wingless, 5—7 mm long, 3—4 mm in diameter.

Stomachic, refrigerant, anti-inflammatory, astringent, diuretic, tonic, antipyretic, emmenagogue, haemostatic and antitussive (leaves); tonic, sedative, tranquillizer, aphrodisiac, antitussive and haemostatic (seeds)

PROSEA (Plant Resources of South-East Asia) Foundation

Used to relieve all kinds of bleeding, duodenic and gastric ulcers, gonorrhoea and colds (decoction or juice of leaves); to treat dysentery, skin affections and cough (decoction of twigs).