Distribution: Occurring on both sides of the Cascades crest in Washington; Alaska to California, east to southeastern Alberta, Idaho, western Montana, and northeastern Oregon.

Habitat: Open to deep, usually moist forests, sea level to middle elevations in the mountains

Cones: August-October

Origin: Native

Growth Duration: Perennial

Conservation Status: Not of concern

Pollination: Wind

Shrub-like, dioecious tree mostly 5-10 m. tall, the trunk often contorted, the branches spreading or drooping.

The bark very thin, consisting of purplish scales covering the reddish or reddish-purple inner bark.

Leaves 2-ranked, 14-18 mm. long and 1-2 mm. wide, yellow-green, paler on the lower surface, tipped with a sharp, slender point.

Staminate cones yellowish, globose, about 3 mm. long; stamens 6-14 in a tight cluster, surrounded by several small bracts, projecting above the branch; ovule solitary in the leaf axils, terminal and on the lower side of a short, scaly branch, subtended by 2 pairs of bracts, at maturity surrounded by a fleshy, reddish disc, appearing berry-like.