Japan Flora: Shrub or small tree, the branchlets pubescent and glandular-pilose while young; leaves deltoid-obovate to ob­ovate-orbicular to broadly obovate, or abruptly short-acuminate, 5-12 cm. long and as wide, truncate and abruptly acuminate, incised and doubly toothed, cordate, pubescent above while young, with short spreading hairs be­neath and loose ascending hairs on nerves, the petioles 5-20 mm. long, pubescent and glandular-pilose; nuts 1-3 in a cluster, the involucre campanulate, 2,5-35 cm. long, puberu- lent, glandular-pilose below, striate, deeply toothed on margin; nuts subglobose, about 1.5 cm. across.  Hokkaido, Honshu, Kyushu. Korea, Manchuria, Ussuri, and Amur.

Korea Flora: Deciduous shrub growing up to 7m. Winter buds and branchlets: Winter buds broadly ovoid, 5-8 scales, terminal buds larger than lateral buds (3-4mm long). Glandular hairs developed on branches and petioles. Leaf scars semi-lunar or triangular. Leaves alternate, ovate, orbicular, or spathulate, shortly acuminate apex, rounded or subcordate base, 5-12cm × 5-12cm, purple markings on upper surface, fine hairs on lower surface, margins with indistinct lobes and fine serrations. Petiole 1-3cm long with abundant distinct glandular hairs. Flowers monoecious. Male catkins formed in previous year, 2-5 pendulous at branch tips, male flowers single per bract, 2 bracteoles, no calyx, 8 stamens. Female catkins enclosed in winter buds with about 10 styles protruding. Fruit and Seeds: Two bracts develop leaf-like with fruit growth, enclosing the fruit. Nut round, 15-30mm in diameter, glabrous, brown.

Flowering period: Late March
Fruiting period: Mid-September to mid-October
Distribution: Northern and Northeast China, Eastern Mongolia, Southeast Siberia, Far East Russia, throughout Japan; throughout Korea (rare in northern regions like Gangwon Province)

Ecological characteristics: Grows particularly well along sunny hiking trails.
Taxonomic notes: While some distinguish between var. thunbergii Blume (with lobed leaves) and the typical variety (without lobed leaves), such variation commonly occurs within individual plants, making varietal recognition inappropriate.