Identification:
Leaves—large, maple-like, alternate, simple, palmately veined, ovate, coarsely serrated
Twigs—zig-zag, quite stout, orange-brown
Flowers—monoecious, imperfect, very small, dense round clusters
Fruit—spherical, bristly, brown with tiny, winged seeds
Bark—thin, mottled brown, green, tan, and white
Hover over one of the descriptions to see an example.
Natural History:
Lifespan—250 years
General description—A very massive tree with heavy, spreading branches with obviously zigzag twigs reaching up to and over 100 feet tall. In winter, the persistent fruits resemble Christmas tree ornaments.
Natural distribution and habitat—Found from southern Ontario, south into Florida, and west as far as Michigan, Nebraska, and Texas. This tree grows best on moist, rich soil margins of streams and lakes.
Conservation status—Least Concern (LC)
Uses—The wood is used for chopping blocks, furniture, and chipboard.