Large tree to 30 m or so tall with broad crown. Buds dark brown. Young shoots green to dark brown. Leaves 15-30 cm long, stalk with groove hardly visible on the upper surface. Leaflets (5-)7(-9), hairless, whitish below, ovate to elliptic but variable, mostly 8-15 cm long, 4-6 cm wide, terminal leaf generally largest, margins entire or irregularly toothed, the teeth sometimes rounded. Leaflet stalks mostly 0.5-1.5 cm long; autumn colour variable, purplish or yellow. Fruits 3-5 cm long, 7-8 mm wide.

E and C USA

Grows naturally in moist woodland. Plants grown under this name may be F. pennsylvanica.

A valuable timber tree.

Often confused with F. pennsylvanica q.v.

SPECIMENS VIC: Melbourne (Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria (Melbourne Gardens), Gardens House).

Source: Spencer, R. (2002). Oleaceae. In: Spencer, R.. Horticultural Flora of South-eastern Australia. Volume 4. Flowering plants. Dicotyledons. Part 3. The identification of garden and cultivated plants. University of New South Wales Press.