A shrub or small tree; branches sparingly armed with spines, glabrous. Leaves long-petioled, ovate, long-acuminate, base rounded, margin deeply and distantly toothed, 4–8 in. long, 3–4 in. wide, membranous, pubescent on the nerves when young especially beneath, ultimately glabrous except for a few long white hairs on the nerves beneath; petiole 3–4 in. long; stipules ovate, acute, with ciliate margins, over 1 in. long. Male flowers in rather lax lateral panicles; bracts suborbicular, obtuse, deep crenate, subtending several flowers; buds globose, minute, puberulous. Stamens 2, occasionally 1. Female flowers unknown.