small hexagonal to rounded plates (somewhat reminiscent of crocodile skin) in old trees.

It is a member of the hard pine group, Pinus subgenus Pinus, with leaves ('needles') in fascicles (bundles) of two, with a persistent sheath. They are 4.5 - 10 cm long and 1.5 - 2 mm thick. Cones are 5 - 9 cm long, with thin, fragile scales; they are dark blue-purple before maturation, turning brown when ripe