An evergreen, slow-growing tree to 30 m tall. Male and female cones on the same tree. Bark of mature trees peeling in strips.

Japan (C Honshu) where it grows naturally in steep, sheltered, rocky situations.

Long leaves in whorls of 15-25, each leaf with a deep longitudinal groove above and below.

VIC: Emerald Lake (above car park); Dandenongs (Alfred Nicholas Memorial Gds, next to lake; Mt Dandenong Arboretum; 'Pirianda'); Melbourne (Royal Bot. Gds, next to kiosk); Mt Macedon (Taylor & Sangster Nsy site); Parkville (Melbourne University Botany School entrance). NSW: Leura ('Everglades'); Mt Tomah (Bot. Gds); Sydney (Royal Bot. Gds); Mt Wilson ('Lindfield Park').

Source: Spencer, R. (1995). Sciadopityaceae. In: Spencer, R.. Horticultural Flora of South-eastern Australia. Volume 1, Ferns, conifers & their allies. The identification of garden and cultivated plants. University of New South Wales Press.