Dioec. branching shrub up to 2 m. or more tall, with base up to 12 cm. diam.; stinging hairs stalked, cop.; young branchlets, petioles and infl.-axes pilose-pubescent. Lvs rather pale green, 8-12 × 3-5 cm., on petioles up to 5 cm. long (lvs of juveniles sts up to 15 cm. long; of exposed plants sts reduced to 5 cm. or less long), glabrate above, ± scurfy pubescent below; lamina ovate-triangular, acuminate, coarsely sharply dentate-serrate; subcordate to truncate at base; teeth up to 1 cm. long, bristle-tipped, sinus acute to obtuse. Spikes branched, up to 8 cm. long; per.-segs pubescent. Achenes 1-1·5 mm. long, brown.

2n = 48

Woody, dioecious shrub, with numerous long-stalked stinging hairs, otherwise moderately to densely hairy. Lvs triangular to ovate-triangular, acute to acuminate, cordate to truncate at base, coarsely dentate, (4)-7-12-(18) cm long. Stipules 2 per node, entire.