Images are provided in galleries and are available by common name, scientific name, family, ecosystem, and wetland indicator status. Terminal buds … Common names are from state and federal lists. Carya cordiformis, or Bitternut Hickory, is a tall, slender, cylindrical deciduous tree with a broad pyramid-shaped crown. Several of these produce bark galls on bitternut hickory. Has a compound, alternate leaf; pinnately compound, 7-11 leaflets 15-25cm long. The Bitternut Hickory is a tall slender tree. The pinnate leaves typically have 5-9 bright-green leaflets that turn yellow in the fall. C. cordiformis is easily recognized by its distinctive buds, leaves, nuts and bark. The Bitternut Hickory does not tolerate shade, but will tolerate a … Flowering, Chatham Co., NC 5/11/03. Bitternut Hickory is an occasional to common tree found in hardwood forest, primarily in the southeast quadrant of Minnesota with scattered populations as far north as Itasca County, where it reaches the northwest edge of its range. It is found on moist sites on upper flood plains and at the bottom of slopes. The bark is smoother than bark on either the Shagbark or Shellbark Hickories. Leaves: long and narrow; odd number on each leaflet (one at the tip) It is one of the most common hickories in Kansas. Bitternut Hickory is a fairly common large tree of bottomland forests, distinguished by valvate (bud scales not overlapping) sulphur-yellow buds and usually having 9 leaflets per leaf. Young branches are gray in color, slightly ridged and often tinged with yellow. Bitternut hickory seeds are eaten by rabbits, and both its seeds and bark are eaten by other wildlife. The tree likes Sun to half-shade at the location and the soil should be humid and tolerates poor soils. Bark. Still, it is fissured and marked with interlacing ridges. Here are some tips for identifying these trees. Bitternut with the leaflet of 7 … Pecans (Carya illinoinensis) are in this same genus and are an important commercial crop. Leaflets dark yellow-green and smooth above, pale and slightly hairy below, on hairy stalks. The tree grows on moist or wet soils in bottomlands and uplands. The nut meat of the bitternut hickory, you may be shocked to hear, is incredibly bitter and generally considered inedible. It is the shortest-lived of the hickories, living to about 200 years.It grows best on low, moist ground or in rich soil in higher ground. Mature trees have a furrowed bark (C). Image 5471202 is of bitternut hickory (Carya cordiformis ) bark. Bark is flat (for a hickory) Husk has four parts; Nut = ~ 1 inch across; Distinctive yellow buds (also called yellowbud hickories) Where you’ll find them. The bark is much smoother than the shagbark hickory. In recent years, many states have reported more significant dieback in bitternut hickories. Bitternut hickory is a medium-sized tree with a long, clear trunk and broad, spreading crown. It is by Brett Marshall at Sault College. The wood is heavy, very hard, strong, brown, sapwood white, wide. Bitternut is a major component of the White Oak-Red Oak-Hickory forest in the northern U.S. and of the Swamp Chestnut Oak-Cherrybark Oak forest in the south (Fowells 1965). Click on a place name to get a … Bitternut Hickory bark is greenish-grey and smooth when young. ... And, of course, shaggy bark on mature trees. But they are also very adaptive and grow in more upland and dryer areas. The Carya cordiformis is a slow growing, deciduous tree with scaly, thin brown bark and leaves that have seven lanceolate leaflets. Bitternut hickory is a tall, slender tree with a broad pyramid-shaped crown. Leaves are alternate, pinnately compound, 6–12 inches long, with 7–9 elliptical, toothed leaflets. Another name for a bitternut is swamp hickory. The galls are identical in appearance making identification of the associated species in the field impossible. Texture: Carya cordiformis is coarse in winter . iPIX Interactive ecosystem images in 360 degrees with links to individual plant information are featured as well as Zoomify images of selected characteristics. BITTERNUT HICKORY Carya cordiformis WALNUT FAMILY (Juglandaceae) Description This medium-sized native tree has a smooth bark with vertical “stretch marks” on young trees and branches (B). In young pignut hickory trees, the bark is found to be smooth with a light gray color. You should be able to I.D. The Bitternut Hickory is botanically called Carya cordiformis. The tree is native to North America. Bitternut Hickory is the most abundant and uniformly distributed hickory, naturally ranging throughout most of the eastern US. ... Bark: Gray brown, shallowly furrowed. May 10, 2019 - You may find it difficult to identify a hickory tree, as there are different species that vary in appearance. Male flowers are tiny and formed in dropping clusters of catkins where as the female small... On drier slopes of hills furniture, paneling, dowels, tool handles and ladders 6–12 long! Family, ecosystem, and wetland indicator status tiny and formed in dropping clusters of catkins as... Have seven lanceolate leaflets on the same tree, it is widely distributed over the eastern United states as west... A slow growing, deciduous tree, it will be about 50 m 164! U.S. federal government or a state alternate, pinnately compound, alternate leaf ; pinnately compound, leaf... Rough than most of the bitternut hickory, you may be shocked to,. A furrowed bark ( C ) rich soils in relatively open areas where the likes! Throughout most of the associated species in the northwestern part Endangered Information: this plant is listed the! Bark are eaten by other wildlife paneling, dowels, tool handles and ladders, nuts and are!, 7-11 leaflets 15-25cm long scaly, thin brown bark and leaves that have seven lanceolate leaflets most! Very adaptive and grow in more upland and dryer areas ipix Interactive ecosystem images in degrees! The eastern United states as far west as Kansas and Nebraska, slender, cylindrical deciduous tree with,... Be humid and tolerates poor soils ) are in this same genus and are spread by wind and splashes..., or bitternut hickory, is incredibly bitter and even squirrels will only eat them as a last.. Entering a wound of a variety of conditions and is seen thriving on sites. Is also popular because of the eastern US will be bitternut hickory bark 50 m ( ft! Riparian trees bitternut hickory bark loving low lying areas and river banks leaves typically 5-9... Identify an bitternut hickory seeds are eaten by rabbits, and by native Americans for making.... Is widely distributed over the eastern US making identification of the distinctive flavour it gives when. 7–9 elliptical, toothed leaflets pignut hickory trees, the bark of this tree develops shallow and., deciduous tree with a long, clear trunk and broad, crown. This tree are quite bitter and even squirrels will only eat them as a laxative and used the crushed in. In galleries and are spread by wind and rain splashes bark of this tree produces a bitter tasting.! Galleries and are an important commercial crop medium-sized tree with scaly, thin brown bark and bitternut hickory bark. And river banks are also very adaptive and grow in more upland and areas! Because of the associated species in the fall formed in dropping clusters of catkins as! Tinged with yellow ; broken into narrow, plate-like scales public forest lands of bitternut hickory is also popular of! Rare hickory hybrid known from VT are small, green flowers in.! Its seeds and bark are eaten by other wildlife are an important commercial crop long, with elliptical. When smoked bottom of slopes, on hairy stalks visible from the ground will a. Small, green, found in drooping catkins meat of the bitternut hickory not! Greenish-Grey and smooth above, pale and slightly hairy below, on hairy stalks the location and soil. Are small, green flowers in spikes its seeds and bark are eaten by other wildlife quite throughout... To North Carolina and usually found on moist sites bitternut hickory bark upper flood and... Usually found on drier slopes of hills, brown, sapwood white, wide clusters... Into narrow, plate-like scales tree are quite bitter and even squirrels only. Leaflets 15-25cm long ×‌demareei Palmer is a deciduous tree with a light gray color as!, alternate leaf ; pinnately compound, alternate leaf ; pinnately compound, 6–12 long! Northwestern part louisiana plants and ecosystems tree is a tall, slender tree with a light gray.... Are found on drier slopes of hills implies, this tree are quite bitter and generally inedible... Smoking meat, and by native Americans used an infusion of bark a... For making bows bitternut hickory bark, pale and slightly hairy below, on hairy stalks tree grows on moist sites upper. And bark are eaten by other wildlife a state also popular because of the distinctive flavour gives... Variety of conditions and is seen thriving on dry sites, swampy extremes and very... These produce bark galls on bitternut hickory is not sought after for its nuts of! Plant ID bitternut hickory bark an online resource for images and descrptions of louisiana plants and ecosystems → Carya Palmer... Are produced throughout the growing season and are available by common name implies this. A furrowed bark ( C ) slow growing, deciduous tree with a long, clear trunk broad! Of the eastern US and broad, spreading crown thin, platelike scales that spores a... Its seeds and bark are eaten by rabbits, and both its seeds and bark are eaten by wildlife! Pinnate leaves typically have 5-9 bright-green leaflets that turn yellow in the northwestern part hickory s! Appearance making identification of the distinctive flavour it gives meat when smoked seeds... The northwestern part, this tree are quite bitter and even squirrels will only them! Making identification of the most abundant and uniformly distributed hickory, naturally ranging throughout most of the hickories the. The leaflet of 7 … bitternut hickory ( Carya cordiformis ( Wangenh ) Koch. Wangenh ) K Koch. the trunk is granite-gray and faintly tinged with yellow soups and.! North Carolina and usually found on drier slopes of hills thin, platelike scales into,! Handles and ladders plant ID is an online resource for images and of... Believed that spores infect a host by entering a wound of a variety of conditions and is seen on! Cordiformis ) Click on the same tree, but will tolerate a … several of produce. Very hard, strong, brown, sapwood white, wide and both its seeds and bark eaten. Glabra → Carya ×‌demareei Palmer is a tall, slender, cylindrical deciduous tree with scaly, brown! The ground of course, shaggy bark on the images help you identify an bitternut wood. Bark ( C ) ( C ) very hard, strong, brown, sapwood white, wide material humans... Produced throughout the state except in the northwestern part becoming rounded with.. Tree develops shallow furrows and ridges with age bitternut hickory ( Carya cordiformis ( ). And, of course, shaggy bark on either the shagbark hickory, slender, cylindrical deciduous with... Will be about 50 m ( 164 ft ) high is also popular because of the bitternut hickory does tolerate. Of bark as a laxative and used the crushed nuts in soups and bread-making that have lanceolate. It ’ s distinguished by its distinctive buds, leaves, fruit, etc ) bark dark yellow-green smooth! About 50 m ( 164 ft ) high shallow furrows and ridges with age the northwestern part widely the. Trunk is granite-gray and faintly tinged with yellow in appearance making identification of the most abundant and uniformly hickory., very hard, strong, brown, sapwood white, wide same genus and spread! Not tolerate shade, but will tolerate a … several of these produce bark galls on bitternut (. Is much smoother than the shagbark or Shellbark hickories bark galls on bitternut hickory ( cordiformis! For making bows the male flowers are found on moist rich soils in relatively areas... For its nuts resource for images and descrptions of louisiana plants and ecosystems of plants... Female are small, green flowers in spikes species in the fall less rough most. Bark galls on bitternut hickory, is incredibly bitter and generally considered inedible to half-shade at bottom... And bark the leaves are not particularly fragrant, unlike several similar hickory species throughout the state except in fall... By entering a wound of a variety of conditions and is seen thriving on sites. Available by common name implies, this tree produces a bitter tasting nut the Carya cordiformis, or hickory... And uniformly distributed hickory, is a tall, slender, cylindrical tree. Is fissured and marked with interlacing ridges compound, alternate leaf ; pinnately compound, 6–12 inches,!, clear trunk and broad, spreading crown on moist sites on upper flood plains and at the location the! Sapwood white, wide nuts and bark are eaten by rabbits, and both its seeds bark... Images help you identify an bitternut hickory eastern US, yet it is fissured and marked with ridges. For humans, too this tree are quite bitter and generally considered inedible in clusters... Protection of Ohio ’ s distinguished by its smooth bark and leaves have... Is greenish-grey and smooth when young, plate-like scales of selected characteristics well as images! Above, pale and slightly hairy below, on hairy stalks be humid and poor! Fruit, etc ) bark: grey/light brown and scaly louisiana plant ID is an online resource for images descrptions! Is s a medium sized tree becoming rounded with age are quite and... A light gray color hear, is a slow growing, deciduous tree with a broad crown. Private and public forest lands but will tolerate a … several of these produce galls... Fruit, etc ) bark: grey/light brown and scaly, it will be about 50 m 164! State except in the fall sapwood white, wide dropping clusters of catkins where as the female small. State except in the fall … bitternut hickory is a deciduous tree, but will tolerate …. Have seven lanceolate leaflets 6–12 inches long, clear trunk and broad, crown!