Shrubs 1–3(–5) m, branchlets strigose-sericeous, glabrate. Leaves: blade green abaxially, bright green adaxially, generally flat, ovate-elliptic to broadly lanceolate, obovate-elliptic, oblong, or suborbiculate, 2.5–12 × 1.1–7 cm, length 1.3–2.4 times width, margins flat to narrowly revolute, not undulate, smooth, apex rounded to obtuse, abaxial surface glabrous or sparsely strigose, <hairs antrorsely appressed>, adaxial surface glossy, glabrous; <strongly reticulate-veined adaxially>. Aments: staminate 7–20 cm; pistillate compact, internodes to 1 mm, unbranched, pendulous, 4–6 cm; pistillate bracts connate proximally into deep cup, at least at proximal nodes each subtending 3 flowers, triangular with acuminate-recurved apices, differing in size and shape from leaves, densely pilose to glabrate, ciliate. Berries 5–6 mm diam., glabrous or glabrate, not glaucous.
In dry situations in chaparral, mixed evergreen, yellow pine and red fir forests at elevations from sea level to 2200 metres.
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