Large deciduous tree (to c. 25 m tall in cultivation); bark rough and fissured. Shoots dark reddish brown or brown, glabrous, with prominent lenticels. Buds glabrous, without surrounding stipules; apex sometimes hairy. Petiole to 6 cm long. Stipules soon caducous. Lamina on adult shoots mostly 11-20 × 7-15 cm, ovate or ovate-oblong, with 3-5 pairs of lobes extending ⅓-⅔ distance from apex to midrib, slightly shining above, turning deep red before falling, usually glabrous, subcoriaceous, sometimes with a few brownish hairs in vein axils beneath; lobes with aristate apex, usually with 1-4 aristate teeth, sometimes entire; base cuneate. ♂ catkins to c. 8 cm long; lower fls distant; rachis with curly hairs; perianth 1.7-2.3 mm long, with curly hairs on margin; stamens 3-5. Fruiting peduncles 1-1.5 cm long, with 1-(2) fertile frs; frs reaching maturity in second year. Cup 1.5-2 cm diam., shallow; scales ovate, appressed, glabrous or minutely puberulent. Acorn 2-2.5 cm long, ovoid, c. 1/4 enclosed by cup.