Male and female flowers are in separate
hanging catkins that appear in spring before the leaves come out. Seeds
mature about the time the leaves are full size, and fly away with the wind
on white cottony hairs.
Leaves :
The deciduous leaves are silvery-white-wooly
underneath and bluish green topsides. They flutter and glitter in even a
light breeze. The leaves are 2-4 inches (5.1-10.2 cm) long and a lot like
maple leaves, with 3 or 5 distinct lobes.
Leaves sometimes
turn bright yellow or gold in autumn.
Bark :
The bark is pale greenish white and smooth on young trees, becoming grey and
furrowed with age.
