Form: Small to medium sized tree 30 - 50 ft. in height and 1 ft dbh. Rounded crown with branches spreading at right angles.

Leaves:
             

Arrangement: alternate; simple

Shape: ovate-oblong or oval

Margin: entire

Texture: glabrous

Venation: parallel

Bark: The bark is nearly black and broken into squarish blocks.

Twigs and buds: The bud is black and triangular. It has one bundle scar within the leaf scar.

Flowers and fruit: The plum-like fruit that is green when unripe and orange to black when ripe.

Distinguishing characteristics: Look for the black bud (remember- family = Ebenaceae, ebony = black). Also look for the plum-like fruit, alternate leaves, and the rough black bark.

Range: Southern Connecticut south to Florida west to eastern Oklahoma.

Silvics: It is shade intolerant and grows on both moist bottoms and dry uplands.

Ecological and cultural importance: Wood used for veneer, golf club heads, and low grade lumber. Fruit is food for squirrel, quail, and opossum.