A rare deciduous native found in the understory of rich forests with enormous tropical-looking leaves (the largest simple leaves of any tree in the US) that have auriculate (earlobe-shaped) bases. It is much less common than the similar Umbrella-Tree (M. tripetala), which has smaller leaves (though still large) without the lobes at the base. The tiny-looking leaves in the background of this photo are Red Maple.

There are four or five trees in Battle Park, Chapel Hill, Orange Co., NC. It's unknown whether these are escaped from cultivation or truly native to this park. These were photographed in Battle Park on 6/5/05.