Shrubs , deciduous or subevergreen, 0.5-3(-6) m, often rhizomatous. Bark brown, scaly. Twigs yellowish, 1-2 mm diam., densely fine-tomentulose. Buds reddish brown, globose, 1-2(-3) mm, proximal scales densely tomentulose, distal scales glabrous. Leaves: petiole 1-3(-5) mm. Leaf blade obovate or oblanceolate, 30-70(-85) × 14-30(-45) mm, base cuneate or attenuate, margins minutely revolute, entire or sinuately lobed, sometimes obscurely 3-lobed distally or with 3-5 rounded, irregular lobes in distal 1/2, secondary veins curved, 8-9 on each side, apex ovate or triangular-lobed, often retuse; surfaces abaxially grayish or yellowish, with yellowish, erect branched hairs, these soon shed, leaving matted glandular and waxy hairs except on ± glabrate yellowish veins, adaxially bright glossy, very reflective, glabrous or with minute, scattered, stellate hairs. Acorns 1-2, on peduncle 1-6(-35) mm; cup hemispheric, 5-11 m deep × 10-15 mm wide, including 1/3-1/2 nut, scales closely appressed, gray, tomentulose; nut light brown, ovoid to barrel-shaped, 15-20 × 9-13 mm, apex rounded, glabrous or puberulent. Cotyledons distinct.
Dry, xeric habitats of sandy ridges and coastal dunes, common in sandhill and scrub, but is often most abundant in scrubby flatwoods. Open pine forests, scrublands, xerophytic scrub oak, on sand near coast; at elevations to 100 metres.
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