Dwarf shrub, up to 15 cm tall, branches procumbent, twigs glabrous. Leaves, exstipulate, petiole c. 4-8 mm long, sulcate; lamina elliptic, obovate or suborbicular, 7-25(-35) x 5-25 mm, acute or obtuse, margin crenate or serrate. Flowers after the leaves. Male catkin 10-45 mm long, terminal on short leafy shoots, peduncle 8-25 mm long, rachis puberulous. Bracts obovate, brown, glabrous, apex rotund to subtruncate. Disk of 2 erect glands, one in front and one behind the stamens. Stamens 2, filaments free, glabrous, 1.5-2.5 mm long, anthers subglobose 0.3-0.5 mm long. Female catkin similar to the male; gland 1, half surrounding the base of the ovary. Ovary glabrous, subsessile. Capsule ± sessile, ovate, mature 3-4.5 mm long, style 0.1-0.3 mm, stigma 2-lobed, stigmata c. 0.2 mm long.

Fl. Per.: June-July.

Lectotype: In humidis herbosis sub-jugis versus Soogum, 4000 m, Jacquemont (P).

Distribution: Pakistan, (Chitral, Swat, Hazara, Karakoram, Gilgit), Kashmir, India (Tehri-Garhwal), Nepal, Bhutan, Sikkim; China (W. Sichuan, Xizang, Yunnan) (F. Zhenfu, Z. Shidong & A.K. Skvortsov, l.c.).

N.J. Andersson (l.c) has cited 3 specimens along with the original description. In addition to the lectotype (l.c.) he has cited `Ad Kamaon, Wallich' and `In alpibus Himalensibus' W. Hoffmeister also. However, as A.K. Skvortsov has selected the Jacquemont's specimen as `Type' in Flora Iranica. It is designated here as lectotype.