This is a medium-sized tree ranging from 60-80 ft. in height and 2-3 ft. in dbh. It has a wide spreading crown.

Leaves:
 Arrangement: opposite, simple

 Shape: 5 lobed

 Margin: serrated

 Texture: glabrous

 Variation: palmate

Young trees typically have a smooth silvery gray appearance which eventually breaks up into thin plates that are unattached at the ends.

They resemble red maple, but are more brown in color. Terminal buds are obtuse and lateral buds are smaller than the terminal.

Perfect flowers are red to green in color. The fruit is a samara.

It has very deep lobes which distinguish it from red maple and has a serrated margin which distinguishes it from sugar maple.

It grows naturally from Michigan south to Louisiana west to eastern Oklahoma and east to the Atlantic coast

It grows best on wet bottomlands and along steam sides and lakes.

The wood can be used in furniture and paneling. The fruit is eaten by a variety of game birds and small mammals.