Bitternut Hickory (Swamp Hickory, Yellowbud Hickory)
Carya cordiformis · Juglandaceae (Walnut family)
AI-generated identification · may be incorrect
Leaf Morphology
Leaf Type
Compound (pinnately compound, typically with 7-9 leaflets), deciduous
Shape
Lanceolate to oblong-lanceolate with an acuminate tip and cuneate or rounded base
Margin
Serrate (finely toothed margins along the leaflets)
Arrangement
Alternate arrangement on the twig, with pinnately compound leaves
Venation
Pinnate venation with a prominent midrib and distinct lateral veins branching outward
Key Features
Distinctive sulfur-yellow, mustard-colored winter buds, compound leaves with 7 to 9 narrow leaflets, and thin-husked nuts with four prominent wings along the upper half of the husk
Description
Bitternut Hickory is a medium to large deciduous tree known for its smooth gray bark in youth that becomes shallowly furrowed with age. It produces distinctive sulfur-yellow, granular winter buds, and small, bitter nuts enclosed in thin husks with winged ridges. The foliage consists of alternate, pinnately compound leaves that provide a lush canopy during summer and brilliant yellow coloration in the fall.
Habitat
Typically found in moist bottomland forests, along streams, and occasionally on drier upland sites in rich, well-draining soils
Native Range
Native to eastern North America, spanning from southern Quebec and Ontario south to Florida, and west to Texas and Minnesota