Small tree or shrub, twigs pubescent becoming glabrous, stipules minute. Petiole 2-6 mm long. Lamina 2.5-6.5 x 1.2-2.4 cm, elliptic, oblong or ovate margin denticulate, tip obtuse to acute, bright green above, lighter on the lower side; pubescent when young specially along midrib, becoming glabrous. Catkins appear after the leaves. Male catkins 2.5-7 x 0.4-0.7 cm, on short leafy shoots; rachis villous. Bracts 0.8-1.6 x 0.4-0.8 mm, obovate, silky pubescent on both sides. Stamens 2, filaments 2-3 mm, villous in the lower half, united in the lower half or free, solitary erect gland opposite the bract or sometimes 2 glands. Female catkin 3.5-11.5 x 0.6-0.7 cm, on leafy shoots; rachis villous; bracts as in the male catkin. Ovary subsessile, stigmas subsessile, spreading, each stigma 2-lobed. Fruiting catkin 4-12 x 0.8-0.9 cm, not dense. Stipe 0.3-0.7 mm long; capsule 4-5 mm long, lanceolate, glabrous.

Fl. Per.: April-May.

Lectotype: “Prope Kamaon”, Blinkworth sub. nomine S. kamaunensis Lindl. ex Wall., Cat. No. 3701 nom. nud. (K, LE) (A.K.Skvortsov, l.c. 35. 1969).

Distribution: Eastern Afghanistan, Pakistan (Kurram, Swat, Hazara, Murree) Kashmir, India Nepal and China (Sichuan, Xizang, Yunnan).