A small tree or shrub growing to 25-30 feet, distinguished by its twigs covered with long hairs that resemble the velvet of stag's antlers.

TWIGS: Stout, densely covered with velvety brown hairs. When cut, twig exudes a milky white juice.

BUDS: Terminal buds are absent, lateral buds are conical, covered with reddish hairs.

FRUITS: Growing in compact, erect, conical clusters, maturing in early autumn, persistant through winter. Individual fruits are about 4mm in diameter, covered with short, sticky, acid-tasting red hairs.

BARK: Thin, dark brown, smooth, becoming scaly in older trees.

HABITAT: Widely varying soil types, open uplands, forest edges, roadsides, waste sites.

RANGE: Southern Ontario to Nova Scotia, south to Georgia, west to Minnesota and Missouri.

USES: The bark, especially of the roots, is rich in tannin, used for tanning. It is grown as an ornamental.