Trees 10(-20) m tall, evergreen. Young branchlets pale brown stellate tomentose. Petiole 2-5 mm, sometimes nearly sessile; leaf blade elliptic to obovate, 2.5-7 × 1.5-3.5 cm, densely with reddish brown to orangish brown glandular hairs (especially abaxially on midvein) when young, abaxially with slender reddish brown to orangish brown stellate hairs and simple hairs or mealy scurfy scalelike trichomes with age, adaxially glabrescent but pubescent along midvein, base rounded to shallowly cordate, margin entire or with spiniform teeth, apex obtuse; midvein apically flexuous; secondary veins 6-8 on each side of midvein; tertiary veins abaxially obscure. Female inflorescences 0.5-2.5 cm; cupules 1-4. Cupule shallowly cupular, 5-6 cm × 0.9-1.2 cm, covering base of nut, outside gray pubescent, inside densely tomentose; bracts ovate-elliptic to lanceolate, apex obtuse and often free from cupule wall. Nut ovoid to narrowly so, 1.2-2 × 1-1.5 cm, glabrous. Fl. May-Jun, fr. Sep-Oct.

Montane forests to subalpine scrub; 2000-4500 m. Guizhou, W Sichuan, Xizang, Yunnan [Bhutan, Myanmar]