Medium to large tree with mature bark covered with corky knobs and ridges. Leaves are egg-shaped, long-pointed and coarsely toothed, alternate on the branches. The bases of the leaves are asymmetrical. Flowers greenish, rarely noticed, in spring. Fruit a round, red, dryish berry with one seed, in the fall.

Native forest tree of the southeast. Occasional in the Park forests.

The leaves and fuits, and especially the bark are distinctive and easily identify this tree.