The leaves are single, broadly oval or nearly round, 1-1/2 to 3 inches
long, pointed at the end and finely toothed along the margins with small swellings
on the teeth. Leaves are shiny green above, dull gray-green below, with a
distinctly flattened leaf stem which causes the leaves to appear to tremble
in the wind and from which the tree gets its name.
The buds are about 1/4 inch long, pointed and somewhat resinous. The
fruit is a catkin of small capsules and contains brown, fine tufted seeds.
On branches and small trees the bark in smooth and gray-green to a very light
gray to almost white, often with dark circular markings. On old trunks it
is dark gray and deeply furrowed.
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