Size: tree, 30-40' average height at maturity
Buds: terminal absent, laterals brownish, prominent, usually split open at apex to reveal a tuft of hairs, usually 2 scales
Leaves: deciduous, alternate, 6-18", pinnately or bipinnately compound, 7-15 leaflets, each leaflet 1-4" long, ovate to ovate-oblong, coarsely and irregularly serrate, tips generally acute, emerge purple-red, bright green in summer, yellow in fall
Twigs: brownish, conspicuous lenticels, triangular dark lenticels
Flowers: monoecious, yellow, in loose panicles up to 15" long, conspicuous, bloom in July
Fruit: capsule with 3 valves, fat pyramid like shape, about 2" long, black seeds
Bark: light gray-brown, ridges and furrows on older trees
