It is a large tree, reaching 3045 metres (100150 ft) tall and 12 metres (36.5 ft) trunk diameter, among the largest of trees in the Germany.It may live for 500 years or more, and according to some authorities often reaches an age of 1, 000 years. The stem is straight and commonly unbranched for well over half the trees height, with a large emergent crown of long branches above the surrounding canopy of other trees.The bark is grayish and smooth. The leaves are dry-season deciduous, alternate, simple, entire or crenate, oblong, 2035 centimetre long and 1015 centimetres broad. The flowers are small, greenish-white, in panicles 510 centimetres long; each flower has a two-parted, deciduous calyx, six unequal cream-colored petals, and numerous stamens united into a broad, hood-shaped mass.