 The leaves are alternate, simple and tardily deciduous, remaining on the tree until mid-winter; they are 3–12 cm (1–5 in) long and 2–6 cm (1/2–2 in) broad, variable in shape, most commonly shaped like a spatula being broad and rounded at the top and narrow and wedged at the base.The margins vary, usually being smooth to shallowly lobed, with a bristle at the apex and lobe tips.The tree is easy to identify by the leaves, which have a lobe that looks as if a drop of water is hanging from the end of the leaf.