Shrubs, 2–7 m, (multistemmed, sometimes forming clones by stem fragmentation). Stems: branches (highly brittle or not at base), red-brown to violet, usually glaucous, glabrous; branchlets yellow-brown, (strongly glaucous or not), glabrous, sparsely velvety, or tomentose. Leaves: stipules absent or rudimentary on early ones, foliaceous or rudimentary on late ones, apex acute; petiole convex to flat adaxially, 4–14 mm, velvety adaxially; largest medial blade lorate, narrowly oblong, narrowly elliptic, or narrowly oblanceolate, 47–115 × 8–22 mm, 3.5–7.7 times as long as wide, base cuneate or convex, margins flat to slightly revolute, entire and gland-dotted, serrulate or crenate, apex acuminate, acute, or convex, abaxial surface glaucous, glabrous, sparsely tomentose, or short-silky, hairs wavy, adaxial slightly to highly glossy, glabrous or pilose; proximal blade margins entire or serrulate; juvenile blade yellowish green or reddish, glabrous or sparsely villous abaxially, hairs white. Catkins flowering before or just before leaves emerge; staminate stout or subglobose, 15–34 × 8–22 mm, flowering branchlet 0(–2) mm; pistillate densely flowered, stout or slender, 14–43 × 7–12 mm, flowering branchlet 0–4 mm; floral bract brown or black, 1.3–2.5 mm, apex rounded, abaxially hairy, hairs straight or wavy. Staminate flowers: adaxial nectary narrowly oblong to oblong, 0.3–0.8 mm; filaments connate less than to more than 1/2 their lengths; anthers yellow or purple turning yellow, ellipsoid or shortly cylindrical, 0.4–0.7 mm. Pistillate flowers: adaxial nectary narrowly oblong to oblong, 0.3–0.7 mm; stipe 0.4–1 mm; ovary pyriform, beak slightly bulged below styles; ovules 9–12 per ovary; styles 0.3–0.9 mm; stigmas flat, abaxially non-papillate with rounded tip, 0.15–0.28–0.6 mm. Capsules 3.5–4 mm. 2n = 38.