Shrubs 1-3 m tall. Branchlets densely brownish stellate-pubescent. Leaves opposite, each pair somewhat unequal; stipules subulate to lanceolate, 2-4 mm, deciduous; petiole 0.5-3 cm; leaf blade elliptic, broadly ovate, or rhombic-ovate, 4-15 × 2-5 cm, chartaceous, adaxially glabrous, abaxially gray pubescent along veins, and barbate in vein axils, scattered glandular-scaly, base cuneate or obtuse, sometimes slightly cordate, with 2-4 glands, margin repand-denticulate or subentire, apex acute or acuminate; basal veins 3, lateral veins 4-6 pairs. Male inflorescences axillary, sometimes terminal, unbranched, 2-6 cm, pubescent; bracts lanceolate or triangular, 2-4 mm. Male flowers 3-fascicled; pedicel 1-2 mm; calyx lobes 3 or 4, ovate, ca. 2 mm, pubescent; stamens 35-40. Female raceme 2-8 cm, with 2-9 flowers, pubescent. Female flowers: sepals 3-5, lanceolate or oblong-lanceolate, ca. 3 mm, pubescent; styles 3, ca. 3 mm, base connate, plumose. Capsule 3-locular, ca. 8 mm in diam., yellowish pubescent, sparsely shortly softly spiny and glandular-scaly; pedicel ca. 2 mm. Seeds globose, ca. 3.5 mm in diam., brown. Fl. and fr. Apr-Dec.