Plant Description
Tall shrub or small tree with a rounded crown. The development is erect, tending to grow both in height and in width. Crushed leaves have a somewhat disagreeable odor.
Leaves alternate along the stems, on long leaf stalks; palmately compound with 3 stemless, elliptical and aromatic leaflets with pointed tips; greenish-white flowers in clusters opening from center outward; dry, winged fruit (samara).
Habitat
Found in canyons, on shady and open slopes.
Leaves
Leaves long stalked to 5-1/2 inches long, compound, 3 ovate and toothed leaflets to 3 inches long, attached directly to the central stalk; surfaces shiny above, paler and hairy below, dotted with oil glands that produce a disagreeable odor when crushed.
Flowers
Fragrant, with 4 to 5 petals to 1/2 inch wide found in clusters in the leaf axil, somewhat showy, in clusters with stalks shorter than the leaf stems so that the flower clusters are buried in the leaves; unisexual and bisexual flowers on the same plant.
Fruit
Flat, nearly circular, with a thin wing all around, hop-like fruit to 1/2 inch wide.