Tree up to 15 m tall; sucker formation common; bark greyish. Young branches yellowish brown, glabrous. Leaves leathery, glabrous, very variable in form and size; on young plants and on long shoots, linear to elongate-ovate, 3-12 x 0.5-4 cm, usually entire, petiole 7.5-15 mm long; on older trees and on short shoots ovate-rhombic, elliptic-orbicular or reniform, 2-5 x 3-7 cm or larger, shallowly dentate in upper part; petiole 1.2-5 cm long. Male catkin 2.5-5 cm long, lax. Male flowers: bract oblanceolate, incised; disc orbicular on a long slender stipe, flat, 8-cleft; stamens 8-12, anthers longer then filaments. Female catkin 5-8 cm long, lax. Female flower: disc membranous caducous, tubular with 8-12 linear segments; stigmas 2-3 ± crescent shaped, narrowed into a short style. Capsule 7.5-12 mm, smooth, glabrous or slightly pubescent when young, 2-3 valved. Pedicel 3.5-5 mm.