Plant
Twig
- Alternate leaf arrangement
Bark
- Light to dark grey
- Smooth, thin
Leaf
- 2-5" long, up to 2½" wide
- Alternate, simple
- Ovate-oblong
- Margins smooth or very shallow-toothed
- Green or purple, varies by cultivar
Leaf Bud
- Slender and long, up to 1"
- Overlapping scales
- Sharp-pointed
Flower
- Non-showy
- Feathery, emerging from cone-shaped husks
Fruit
- ¾" wide
- Winged nut, covered with recurved prickles
