Young t wigs are red-brown and shiny with stipular scars surrounding the twig. Buds are green to purple, smooth and shaped like a duck's bill. Bark is light gray with deep irregular grooves, as if cut with a pizza cutter, and black branch scars. Flowers are yellow with orange splotches and tulip-like.
Fruit is a cone-like cluster of samaras.
Intolerant of shade. Click on image to enlarge. All text and photographs are intended for educational purposes only and are not for commercial use in any form. 1999, all rights reserved. Photographs by Mike Hogan.