A medium-sized, bottomland species found in the eastern U.S. except for the coastal plains in the north, found on dry uplands and bottomlands in the south. It has exceptionally high heat value. Leaves are usually with 5 leaflets with hairs at the teeth edge and the odor of green apples when crushed. Twigs are stout and gray to red-brown. The terminal bud is about 3/4", broadly ovoid with 3-4 visible, and pubescent scales. Fruit is a 4-ribbed nut within a globose, 1-1/2" semi-woody dehiscent, thick husk. Bark is gray and shaggy with long, thin plates curved at one or both ends.