 The branchlets are bright green at first, later become dark brown tinged with red, and spiny.The winter buds are chestnut brown, long-pointed at the tip, up to long.The leaves are alternate, simple, oblong-ovate or obovate, long and broad, wedge-shaped or slightly heart-shaped or rounded at base, doubly crenaulate-serrate, abruptly contracted to a narrow point at the apex, feather-veined, midrib conspicuous; they emerge from the bud convolute, downy, slightly tinged with red, are smooth, becoming bright green above and paler beneath when full grown.