cladastris lutea - yellowwood/kentucky Yellowwood

This tree grows to 60 feet tall with a diameter of 3 feet.  The leaves are composed of 7 to 11, smooth edged, sometimes silky leaflets that are 2 to 4 inches long.  The leaves are pinnately compound and alternate.  The buds are hairy, and there are often several (one above the other) that are hidden beneath the hollow leafstalk bases.  In winter, they are surrounded by u-shaped leaf scars.  There are grape-like clusters of white blooms.  The twigs are stout, the end buds are false, and there are 5 bundle scars.  The bark is smooth gray, and the wood is yellow.

Cladastris lutea flowers from May to June.  The fruits look like pea pods and occur between September and October.