Leaves unlobed (oval), bilobed (mitten-shaped), and trilobed (three-pronged), all on the same tree. Twigs bright green, aromatic when crushed; fruits blue, berrylike; bark orange-brown, deeply ridged and furrowed with horizontal fissures; brilliant yellow to reddish-orange autumn color. Contains safrole, a carcinogenic substance. Dioecious (male and female flowers on separate plants).