Ironwood

Fruiting branches seen on an ironwood tree. Fruit is a small, oval nutlet enclosed in an inflated, papery sac 1/3 to 1 inches long. Male and female flowers are borne separately on the same tree in dangling clusters called catkins. Leaves are simple and alternate, soft to the touch, the blade oval-elliptic, 2 to 5 inches long, 1 to 2 inches wide, tapered to pointed tip, base is rounded and symmetrical, sharply doubled-toothed along the edges.