A large, intolerant tree with a clear straight trunk and oblong crown found on rich sites throughout most of the eastern U.S. except northern New England and the northern Lake States. Wood is commonly used as plywood corestock. Leaves are deciduous, about 5", generally 4-lobed; lobe margins entire; base and apex are nearly truncate (or apex notched). Twigs are stout, reddish-brown, and bitter with conspicuous stipule scars encircling the twig and a diaphragmed pith. Buds are "duck-billed" shaped with 2 valvate scales. Fruit is large (3" or more) with a cone-like aggregate of samaras. Samaras are 4-angled and deciduous from aggregate's axis. Bark is ashy-gray with long interlacing rounded ridges and the inner bark is aromatic and bitter.