A medium sized tree commonly 40 to 80 feet tall and 1 to 3 feet in diameter, crown may be narrow or spreading. Twig stout, round but flattened at each node, olive-gray and pubescent when young, but turning gray-brown and smooth with age; large crescent-shaped leaf scars are opposite. Bark thin, smooth, and gray-green when young but eventually becoming up to 1 1/2 inches thick and furrowed with thin, flat ridges, gray-brown. Leaves opposite, pinnately compound, deciduous, 5 to 14 inches long, 5 to 9 leaflets; leaflets are broadly ovate, obovate, or elliptical, densely pubescent at first but smoothing with age, margins are entire to irregularly serrate, leaflets 2 to 4 inches long, green above and paler below. Flower dioecious; small, greenish-white, inconspicuous flowers borne in dense clusters. Fruit dry, flat samaras with terminal wings, 1 to 2 inches long, samaras are attached singly but hang in dense clusters.

Anthelmintic, febrifuge and vulnerary

Plants For A Future

The pulverised fresh roots has been used to treat serious wounds. A cold infusion of the twigs has been used to treat fevers.