Broadly conical or spreading when open grown, evergreen. Huge trunks on old trees. Bark peels in long strips. Tiny fruits attract birds. Timber is prized for carving & interior joinery.

Slow growing native evergreen conifer found throughout NZ where rainfall is adequate. Female trees produce oval red fruits with soft edible pulp around the single seed. Kereru feast on the fruit and pass the seed in their droppings. The seed is slow to germinate.