Dioecious shrub or small tree, 3-8 (10) m tall; stems ribbed below petioles, with harsh pubescence. Leaves alternate; petioles one-fourth to as long as blade; blades ovate to ovate-elliptic, abruptly acuminate, mostly rounded at base, 15-40 cm long, 10-25 cm broad, punctate, with linear cystoliths conspicuous when dry, glabrous above, sparsely pubescent on veins below. Staminate spikes to 10 cm long, erect or +/- pendent, bracteate, the flowers to 1.2 mm diam; tepals 4; stamens spring flowers open and throw pollen. Pistillate spikes 30-60 (90) cm long, slender, pendent; perianth lacking; style oblique on short stalk; stigma brushlike, straight and divergent at anthesis, later curling. Achenes scabrid, ca 1 mm long, soon falling. Croat 4196, 8048.