General: Deciduous, up to 25 cm tall; bark thin, grey, and smooth, often with white patches of lichens, becoming scaly at the base with age; wood and inner bark turn rusty-red when cut.
Leaves: Alternate, deciduous, broadly elliptic and sharp-pointed at the base and tip, 5-15 cm long, dull green and smooth above, rust-coloured and hairy below, the margins wavy, slightly rolled under, with coarse, blunt teeth; leaves remain more or less green until they drop off in late fall.
Flowers: Male and female flowers in hanging, cylindrical spikes (catkins), appear before the leaves; male catkins 5-12 cm long, female catkins to 2 cm long.
Fruits: Clusters of brownish cones to 2 cm long; remain on the tree over the winter; contain oval, winged nutlets.
Ecology: Moist woods, streambanks, floodplains, slide tracks, and recently cleared land, often in pure stands; at low elevations.