Bitternut Hickory (Swamp Hickory)
Carya cordiformis · Juglandaceae (Walnut family)
AI-generated identification · may be incorrect
Leaf Morphology
Leaf Type
Pinnately compound, deciduous
Shape
Lanceolate to oblong leaflets, typically 7 to 11 per leaf
Margin
Serrate (finely toothed)
Arrangement
Alternate
Venation
Pinnate venation with a prominent central midrib and looping lateral veins
Key Features
Distinctive bright sulfur-yellow, valvate (not imbricate) terminal winter buds; leaves with 7 to 11 leaflets that are generally narrower than those of other hickories; and thin-husked nuts containing extremely bitter kernels
Description
Bitternut Hickory is a large, handsome deciduous tree recognized by its slender, bright yellow winter buds and its uniquely bitter nuts. It features a straight trunk with ridged, tight bark and a rounded crown. The compound leaves provide a lush canopy during summer before transforming into a striking golden yellow in the fall.
Habitat
Low wet woods, river floodplains, and rich mesic upland forests, though it tolerates drier soils better than some other hickories
Native Range
Native to eastern North America, from southern Quebec and Ontario west to Minnesota, and south to northern Florida and Texas