Tree or shrub, 3-5 m., with elongated, frequently reddish branches (particularly when young). Buds somewhat pilose. Leaves up to 14 x 0.9-1.8 cm., petiolate, oblong or narrowly ovate to linear-lanceolate, obsoletely serrulate, some (those of lower parts of branches and on peduncles) small and mostly obtuse, mucronulate, others long-acuminate, all glabrous, upper surface somewhat shining with light-coloured nerves, lower mostly glaucous-pruinose with 1 prominent nerve; stipules shorter than petiole, soon deciduous, narrowly triangular, somewhat denticulate, acuminate. Catkins 2-3 (-3.5) cm., erect on short peduncles bearing 2-4 leaves. Bracts pale in colour, ovate, hooded, those of staminate flowers crisp-hairy, those of pistillate flowers slightly hairy at base, soon deciduous. Staminate flowers with 4-5 stamens twice as long as bracts. Stigmas sessile. Capsule about 4 mm., ovoid-oblong, glabrous, on a pedicel of about 1.5 mm., 2-3 times as long as the nectar gland. Fl. March-May.