This is a medium sized tree reaching 60 – 90 ft. in height and 2 – 3 ft. in dbh. and has hanging branches.

Leaves:
 Arrangement: opposite; palmately compound; 5-7 leaflets

 Shape: oval

 Margin: sharply serrate

 Texture: glabrous

 Variation: parallel

When young it has light gray-brown bark that becomes dark brown and scaly when older.

It has stout twigs. Leaf scars are large and shield shaped. The large terminal bud is non-resinous and orangish brown in color.

Flowers are orangish yellow and appear in clusters. Fruit is encased in a leathery husk. The seeds are large, shiny and somewhat round.

It has a palmately compound leaf with 5 leaflets; distinctive seed, orangish brown bark, and distinctive looking fruit.

Southwest Pennsylvania south to northern Georgia west to Illinois.

It is moderately intolerant of shade and prefers to grow on deep soils of coves.

It is excellent for wood carving. The seeds are toxic.