Shrubs or small to large trees. Branchlets dull red to purplish black, stout. Leaves large; petiole long; leaf blade elliptic to obovate-orbicular, subleathery, smooth, glabrous, abaxially grayish blue or glaucous, margin entire or serrate, apex obtuse, rounded, or acute; lateral veins raised. Flowering coetaneous. Catkins long, to 30 cm in fruit; peduncle long, with 2-5 normal leaflets. Male flower: adaxial gland stout, usually depressed at apex, or 2- or 3-lobed, abaxial gland small, sometimes absent; stamens 2, distinct. Female flower: gland usually 1, adaxial, abaxial gland usually absent; ovary glabrous, sparsely pilose, sessile or stipitate; style conspicuous, 2-cleft; stigma thick, short, 2-lobed.