Fully-hardy, evergreen conical tree, becoming domed or flat-topped with age, with dark grey, fissured bark, stiff, blue-grey leaves, to 15cm long, borne in pairs or threes, and conical, spiny brown female cones, to 9cm long, which can last for 30 years before being released by fire.  To 20m.  [RHSE, Hortus, Hilliers’].