Branchlets yellowish, becoming russet or chestnut colored, glabrous. Petiole (3-)5-10 mm, rather thick, notched, pilose; leaf blade long obovate, elliptic, or ovate, 2-3 × 1-2 cm, abaxially greenish, glabrous or along midvein sparsely long pubescent, pilose when young, adaxially green, base broadly cuneate, margin entire, apex obtuse. Catkins borne on distal part

of branchlets, thinly cylindric, 2-3 cm; bracts russet, long elliptic, adaxially villous. Male flower: stamens 2, free. Fruiting catkin elongated; peduncle with leaflets, tomentose. Female flower: ovary long cylindric, tomentulose; style ca. 1 mm; stigma 2-parted. Capsule russet, 5-6 mm, slightly pilose. Fl. Jun-Jul, fr. Aug. 2n = 76, 100, 114.

Alpine tundra; 2000-2800 m. Xinjiang (Altay Shan) [N Russia; N Europe, N North America].