Trees of Alabama and the Southeast Home Page

Leaves are alternate, deciduous and pinnately compound with 7-11 lanceolate to obovate leaflets. The leaf base may be tapered or cordate.  Leaflets and rachis may show hair.  Twigs bear bright yellow, valvate buds. Bark is smooth on young trees and on larger trees the bark is gray-brown with tight interlacing ridges. Nut is round, grooved, 4 ribbed and bitter tasting, and the husk is thin, winged and with yellow scales. Bitternut hickory is found on moist, fertile soils in the east and central U.S. and is intolerant of shade.  The hard wood is used for pulpwood and furniture.

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All text and photographs are intended for educational purposes only and are not for commercial use in any form.  All photographs are copyrighted by the named photographer(s), text copyright by Lisa Samuelson. © 2005, all rights reserved. Photographs by Mike Hogan.