A small to medium-sized tree generally found on moist sites but sometimes on drier ones in southern New England to the north-central states. Leaves are simple, deciduous, alternate, ovate-lanceolate, sharply singly serrate (may be entire below middle), apex acuminate, falcate, base inequilaterally cordate, and 3 veins diverge from he base of the leaf. Twigs are slender, and zigzag with small acute appressed buds. Fruit is a dark red to purple drupe borne on a 3 to 4" stalk. The pit is conspicuously reticulate. Bark is gray, usually with prominent corky warts.