Trees to 10 m tall. Branchlets spreading from trunk at 45° , light grayish brown or chestnut colored, slender, at first pilose, glabrescent. Buds slightly red, ovoid, small, pilose at base. Stipules semicordate, ca. 5 mm; petiole 4-8 mm, pilose; leaf blade lanceolate, 5-7 × 1.2-1.4 cm, abaxially light green, adaxially green, both surfaces pilose, glabrescent, shiny, base cuneate, margin glandular serrate, apex acuminate. Male catkin 3.5-4.5 cm × 7-8 mm; peduncle 5-7 mm, densely downy, with 2 or 3 leaflets; bracts brownish, ovate, abaxially glabrous, adaxially long pubescent, ciliate, apex obtuse. Male flower: abaxial gland larger than adaxial gland, sometimes 2-or 3-lobed; stamens 2-4(or 5), free in proximal part of catkin; filaments ca. 3 × longer than bracts, sparsely long pubescent at base. Female catkin 0.8-1.2 cm; peduncle 1.5-2 mm, densely downy, with 2 or 3 leaflets; rachis pubescent; bracts ovate, brownish abaxially, subglabrous adaxially, long pubescent at base, apex obtuse. Female flower: adaxial gland small, ca. as long as stipe; ovary ovoid, ca. 2 mm, glabrous, very shortly stipitate; style short, 2-lobed; stigma 2-parted. Fl. Mar, fr. Apr.