Shrubs. Leaves small; petiole short; leaf blade obovate to oblong, abaxially usually pilose, margin remotely glandular serrate, revolute, apex obtuse or acute. Flowering precocious or rarely coetaneous. Catkins ellipsoid to shortly cylindric; peduncle indistinct, with 1-3(-5) leaflets, elongated in fruit; bracts uniformly colored or apex more deeply colored, sometimes slightly pink, at least abaxially long pubescent. Male flower: stamens 2; filaments distinct or connate throughout. Fruiting catkin of previous year marcescent. Female flower: ovary pilose, sessile.

A. K. Skvortsov indicates that this and sect. Cheilophilae are very close to one another, especially in flower structure.