Bitternut Hickory
Carya cordiformis · Juglandaceae (Walnut and Hickory family)
AI-generated identification · may be incorrect
Leaf Morphology
Leaf Type
Compound (pinnately compound, typically with 7 to 11 leaflets, though a single isolated leaflet is shown here). Deciduous.
Shape
Lanceolate to oblong-lanceolate with an acuminate tip and an asymmetric or cuneate base.
Margin
Serrate (sharply and finely toothed)
Arrangement
Alternate on the stem
Venation
Pinnate venation with a prominent central midrib and ascending lateral veins extending toward the margin.
Key Features
Distinguished from other hickories by its bright sulfur-yellow, valvate winter buds, slender twigs, and leaves with 7 to 11 relatively narrow leaflets that have finely toothed margins.
Description
The Bitternut Hickory is a large deciduous tree known for its distinctive sulfur-yellow, bud scales and slender twigs. Its bark is initially smooth and gray, becoming shallowly ridged with age.
Habitat
Typically found in rich, moist bottomland forests, along streams, and occasionally on drier upland sites. Prefers deep, moist, well-drained soils and full sun to partial shade.
Native Range
Native to eastern North America, stretching from southern Quebec and Ontario west to Minnesota, and south to eastern Texas and northern Florida.