Size: tree, 40-60' average height at maturity
Buds: stalked with valvate scales
Leaves: deciduous, alternate, 2-4" long, 3-4" wide simple, oval or orbicular, rounded or emarginate at tip, coarsely doubly serrate, shiny dark green, fall color green or brown
Twigs: glabrous, green-brown, brown when mature, pith small, continuous (not chambered), 3-sided
Flowers: monoecious, male flowers in red-brown catkins, 2-4"; females purplish, in conelike structure
Fruit: tiny winted nutlet in long-lasting .33-.66" conelike structure
Bark: Often shiny gray-green or greenish brown when young, shiny brown with age
