Mostly a tree up to 10 m., with rigid, somewhat fragile, more or less glabrous, yellow-green or chestnut-brown branches, sometimes white- and appressed- tomentose when young. Buds small, glabrous or frequently white-pilose at apex. Leaves up to 11 (-13) x 2.5 (-3.5) cm., short-petioled, lanceolate, rarely almost ovate, tapering at both ends, acuminate and sometimes oblique at apex, almost entire and more or less appressed white-silky on both sides when young; the adult ones minutely denticulate or glandular-serrulate, more or less glabrous, sometimes appressed-pilose above and pruinose beneath; stipules generally shorter than petiole, soon deciduous, narrowly lanceolate, denticulate. Staminate catkins 3-6.5 cm., on short, leafy peduncles, densely flowered, flexuous; bracts soon deciduous, small, oblong- lanceolate, green, yellow or brown, hairy. Pistillate catkins less densely flowered and slightly shorter; bracts soon deciduous, ovate-lanceolate, villose. Stamens 2 (very rarely 3), about twice as long as bracts; filaments villose at base. Style almost 0; stigmas divaricate, notched at apex. Pedicel almost nil when young, later almost as long as or somewhat longer than nectar gland. Capsule ovoid to short conical, glabrous. Fl. March-June.