Dioecious, small to large tree up to 20 m high, with branches ± erect to somewhat drooping. Young branchlets glabrous or sparsely hairy, fine (c. 0.66 mm diam.), with as many ± flat faces as lf-teeth, the sides faintly ribbed. Lf-teeth of adult branchlets usually 8, sometimes 7 or 9, or up to 11 in immature plants, narrow-triangular, yellowish toward base with a brown band at or above middle, 0.75–1 mm long; tip pale white, later withering. ♂ fls in terminal spikes 5–25–(30) mm long; whorls of bracts overlapping when fls mature. Cone globose to cylindric, rounded to flattened at apex, (5)–8–12 mm long; margins of valves obtuse or acute; seeds dull, pale whitish brown, 4–5 mm long, with pale membranous wing.
[From: Webb et al. (1988) Flora of New Zealand. Volume 4.]