A relatively tolerant, small tree found on moist sites in the eastern U.S. from southern New England to southern Florida. Leaves are simple, deciduous, alternate, suborbicular, unlobed to deeply 1-3 lobed, and coarsely singly serrate. Twigs exude milky sap when injured. Buds are imbricate, greenish with dark margins and have a distinctive mucronate tip. Fruit is multiple purple edible drupes that resemble blackberry and ripen in the fall. Bark is dark grayish brown, thin, scaly, and furrowed.