Size: tree, 20-35' average height and spread at maturity
Buds: solitary, conical, few scales, 20 or more bundle scars
Leaves: deciduous, alternate, 3-6" long, bipinate or tripinate compound, central rachis (stem) of leaf has some small thorns, leaflets on branches of leaf are ovate, up to 4", sessile, margins serrate, dark green or blue-green, sometimes yellow to purple fall color
Twigs: large and stout, usually thorny, large and distinct leaf scar contrasts sharply with twig and nearly surrounds it
Flowers: monoecious, tiny, whitish, in large panicles, 12-18', at ends of branches
Fruit: brown with broad shallow fissures
