A common ornamental usually found on bottomland and moist uplands of the coastal plains, Piedmont, and Mississippi valley. Leaves are tardily deciduous (green until late winter), spatulate, obovate or oblong, and usually entire or 3-lobed at the apex. Twigs are to 1/4", sharp pointed, and angular. Fruit is to 5/8" long with a nearly black nut, often striate and enclosed at the base in a thin saucer-like cap wth tomentose scales. Bark is thin, with wide, scaly ridges divided by shallow furrows.