Flower: Not showy. Male and female appearing March to April in separate spherical heads.
Fruit: A spherical multiple of achenes borne on a 3 to 6 inch stalk. Each seed is tiny, winged, and 1/2 inch long. Maturing in November, disseminating in late winter.
Twig: Obviously zigzag, quite stout and orange-brown in color. The leaf scar surrounds the bud and the stipule scar surrounds the twig. The terminal bud is absent.
Lateral buds are reddish, resinous, with a single scale.
Bark: Thin, mottled brown, green and white. Often referred to as "camouflage" bark that readily exfoliates. Older stems are gray-brown and scaly.
Form: A very massive tree with heavy, spreading branches with obviously zigzag twigs. In winter, the fruits resemble Christmas tree ornaments.
