Shrubs or small trees. Juvenile branchlets glabrous, sometimes basally silky villous. Buds ovoid-ellipsoid, pilose. Petiole 1-1.5 cm, glabrous, sometimes glandular; leaf blade long ovate-elliptic, to 13 × 5 cm, abaxially grayish white, sparsely villous, adaxially dark green, with rust-colored hairs along midvein when young, base usually rounded, margin indistinctly serrulate or entire, apex acute to acuminate; lateral veins to 15 on each side of midvein. Male catkin 4-5 cm × 6-8 mm; peduncle with leaflets; bracts subovate, abaxially villous or glabrescent distally, ciliate, apex rounded. Male flower: abaxial gland smaller than adaxial gland; stamens 2, villous at base; anthers yellow. Fruiting catkin to 12 × 1 cm; peduncle 1-1.5 cm, with leaflets; rachis villous; bracts suboblong, abaxially villous, apex rounded to acute. Female flower: adaxial gland broadly ovate; style conspicuous, 2-cleft. Capsule ca. 3 mm, glabrous. Fl. May, fr. Jun.