Britain, Europe, Caucasus & Alborz Mts. (Iran). Broadly columnar, deciduous tree with stout greenish-grey shoots with jet black buds. Leaves with 7-13 coarsely serrate leaflets, late into leaf & early to fall. Flowers before the leaves, developing into bunches of 'keys'. Vigorous grower, best on deep moist to wet soils but tolerates much drier soils, enjoys limestone. Valuable light coloured hardwood timber for tool handles, sports goods, and joinery. Steams and bends well. Coppices readily, producing straight poles and rods. Great firewood, burns cut green.

East USA westward to the Rockies. Broadly columnar, deciduous. Vigorous grower. Brilliant golden yellow autumn leaves. Prefers damp soils.

Broadly spreading, evergreen. Common throughout NZ. Long lived. Tolerates salt laden winds. A good screening plant with its glossy green leaves. Palatable to stock and possums. Cold hardy form from the Lewis Pass.

Broadly spreading, deciduous. Smooth green husk and nearly smooth shelled nut. Large compound leaves. Wood heavy, hard dark brown and rather coarse grained. Fairly rare in NZ.