Trees small; bark yellowish gray, exfoliating. Juvenile branchlets brown, rust-colored pubescent at apex, glabrescent. Buds shortly conical, large, pubescent. Petiole 1-1.5 cm; leaf blade oblong, narrowly ovate, or oblong-lanceolate, 7-9(-11) × 3-4(-5) cm, leathery, abaxially light colored, subglabrous, adaxially bright green, both surfaces rust-colored pubescent when young, base rounded or subcordate, rarely broadly cuneate, margin coarsely glandular serrate, apex acuminate or caudate; veins evident. Male catkin 4-5 cm; rachis pubescent; bracts broadly ovate, pubescent, abaxially subglabrous, apex obtuse. Male flower: glands usually lobed; stamens 5 or 6; filaments pilose at base; anthers yellow, ovoid. Female catkin 3-6.5 cm; bracts as in male catkin, 1-2 × as long as stipe. Female flower: adaxial gland slightly clasping stipe; ovary ovoid-conical, ca. 4 mm; style short, 2-cleft; stigma 2-cleft. Fl. Mar, fr. Apr.