Leaf Morphology
Leaf Type
Simple, deciduous leaf
Shape
Ovate to broadly cordate with an acuminate tip, sometimes slightly lobed
Margin
Serrate (coarsely toothed) with rounded or sharp teeth
Arrangement
Alternate
Venation
Palmate venation radiating primarily from the base with prominent net-like reticulation
Key Features
Coarsely toothed ovate leaves that are rough-textured above and pubescent below, combined with milky sap in the twigs and distinctively lobed or unlobed variations on the same branch
Description
The bark is reddish-brown and flaky, and the twigs exude a milky white sap when broken.
Habitat
Found in rich, moist soils of deciduous forests, along streams, and in fence rows, thriving in full sun to partial shade
Native Range
Native to eastern and central North America, from southern Ontario south to Florida, and west to Texas and South Dakota