Form: 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

Venation: palmate

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

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

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

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

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

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

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