Size: tree, 10-20' average height and spread at maturity
Buds: sparsely pubescent, glabrous, bright green on 1-year-old wood, terminal bud slightly larger than other buds, conical, slightly pointed
Leaves: evergreen, but generally deciduous in Ithaca, alternate, 3-5" long, 1.5-2.5" wide, simple, elliptic to oblong-lanceolate, margins entire, tips acute or obtuse, dark green, often shiny above, silvery below, sometimes yellow in fall
Twigs: green, stipular line completely encircles twig at each leaf scar, large circular scars on older wood where flowers and fruits once were
Flowers: monoecious, creamy white, 2-3", lemon scent, bloom in June and sporadically throughout the summer
Fruit: cucumber-like aggregate of follicles, dark red, 2", bright red seeds
Bark: smooth gray to brown
