Large evergreen tree (to c. 25 m tall in cultivation); bark rough and fissured. Shoots and buds grey-tomentose, without surrounding stipules. Petioles 5-15 mm long, grey-tomentose. Stipules subulate. Lamina 3-8 × 1.5-3.5 cm, usually ovate-oblong or ovate-lanceolate, less commonly broad-elliptic, coriaceous, entire or sometimes spinulose-dentate (lvs of juvenile and vegetative shoots often spinulose-dentate), deep shining green and glabrous above, usually grey- or whitish tomentulose beneath; base broad-cuneate or rounded. ♂ catkins 1.5-2.5 cm long, clustered; rachis villous; bracts densely silky; fls dense along rachis; perianth 1-1.5 mm long, villous outside; stamens 4-8. Frs in clusters of 1-3 fertile ones on a short tomentose peduncle, reaching maturity in first year. Cup 1.3-2 cm diam.; scales appressed, ovate, tomentulose. Acorns mostly 1.5-2 cm long, ovoid, ⅓-⅔ enclosed by cup.