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.

Forest canopy tree in lowland dry areas with a dark sooty trunk.Small leathery leaves arranged along the twig, pale underneath, with slightly incurved margins. DNA different from F. cliffortioides, but they readily hybridise.

S E Europe to China. Broadly spreading, deciduous. Edible nuts and high quality decorative timber. Must have free draining soils, will not tolerate clays.

E USA. Broadly conical, deciduous. Renowned for its autumn colours of yellow, orange, red and purple. Prefers moist soils and can tolerate periodic inundation. Wood is valuable. 1 year old (covered through winter).