Tree up to 45-55 m. tall and 200-260 cm dbh, with a long clear bole surmounted by a pyramidal crown that becomes flat-topped with age. Bark smooth, gray, scaly, with resin blisters. Branches grooved, pale brown or dull gray with a blackish pubescence. Leaves; shade foliage 2-ranked, spreading horizontally; foliage in sun more or less erect. Needle base twisted, apex notched or rounded; 15-30 × 1.5-2 mm; upper surface dark shiny green and grooved, usually lacking stomata; lower surface glaucous to whitish-green, keeled , with stomata in 5-8 ranks. Buds pale brown to reddish-brown, ovoid with an obtuse apex, sometimes resinous, diameter 8-11 mm, slightly pubescent. Pollen cones blue/violet/red, 1-3 cm long. Seed cones cylindrical, attenuate at the ends, 10-16 × 3-5 cm, green when young, turning red-brown; cone scales spathulate, finely pubescent with exserted, reflexed bracts extending about 2/3 the length of the scale. Seeds obovoid, reddish, winged, up to 2.5 cm long.

Antibiotic, antiseptic and balsamic (buds); antiseptic and astringent (bark); antiseptic, balsamic, diuretic, eupeptic, expectorant, vasoconstrictor and vulnerary (resin); rubefacient (oil)

Plants for a Future

Abietic acid, succinic acid (resin); alpha-phellandrene, camphene, gamma-terpinene, myrcene, p-cymene, terpinolene (leaf); alpha-pinene (resin, plant); beta-phellandrene, maltol, salicylic acid (plant); beta-pinene, delta-3-carene, limonene (leaf, resin)

Used as an inhalant, to treat bronchitis, cystitis, leucorrhoea, ulcers and flatulent colic (leaves and resin); in bath extracts, rubbing oils etc for treating rheumatic pains and neuralgia (resin)