Bitternut Hickory

Carya cordiformis

By Alex Neumann

Bitternut Hickory ClassificationBitternut Hickory

Carya cordiformisKingdom Plantea Plant

Subkingdom Tracheobionta Vascular Plant

Superdivision Spermatophyta Seed Plants

Division Magnoliophyta Flowering Plants

Class Magnoliopsida Dicotyledons

Subclass Hamamelididae

Order Juglandales

Family Juglandaceae Walnut family

Genus Carya Nutt. Hickory

Species Carya cordiformis (Wang.) K.Koch

Bitternut Hickory

Figure 1: Bitternut Hickory classification table

Shape, Form, and Tree Type

• The Bitternut Hickory has a very tall trunk and is normally forty to eighty feet in height.

• Also the crown of the tree is very broad and rounded.

• The diameter of the tree is one to two feet across.

Figure 2: Picture of a Bitternut Hickory Tree

Bark

• The bark color ranges between a light to medium brown and gray.

• The bark is somewhat rough with thin scaly ridges.

Figure 3: Picture of the bark of a Bitternut Hickory tree

Twig

• The twigs are described as being slender or slight.

• They are long and slender with a bright yellow bud on the end.

Figure 4: Picture of the twig of a Bitternut Hickory Tree

Leaf Description• The Leaves of the Bitternut

Hickory tree are pinnately compounded.

• They are six to ten inches long and come in leaflets of seven to nine.

• They are fine toothed with a hairy line on the underside.

• The leaves are yellow green turning yellow in the winter.

Figure 5: Picture of the leaves of a Bitternut Hickory Tree

Bud, Fruit, and Flower

• Buds: the buds of this tree appear to be slightly flattened. They are bright or mustard colored yellow.

• Fruit: the tree produces a nut about one inch long. It is almost round, but slightly flattened. It is also composed of small yellow scales.

• Flowers: the flowers are small and green colored. The number of flowers per bud depends on the tree sex. Male trees have four to five flowers, females have one to two.

Bud, Fruit, and Flower Pictures

Figure 6: Picture of a Bud from a Bitternut Hickory Tree

Figure 7: Picture of the Fruit of a Bitternut Hickory Tree Figure 8: Picture of a flower

from a Bitternut Hickory Tree

Habitat and Range• This tree thrives in areas with

rich moist soil, mainly valleys. • It can also be found up in

northern upland areas where dry soil is present.

• This tree is found mostly anywhere in the eastern part of the country.

• It is present from New Hampshire down to Florida, over to Texas, up to Minnesota.

• Also found in parts of Canada such as Quebec

Figure 9: Map of the range of Bitternut Hickory Trees

Uses• This wood is not a very

strong wood so it is used more for fuel than for other uses.

• Bitternut Hickory wood is sometimes used for making boxes and crates

• It is used for smoking meats.

• It is also used for lumber, fuelwood, and pulpwood.

Figure 10: Picture of a Bitternut Hickory Tree

References• Classification:USDA, NRCS. (2010, June 24). The PLANTS Database. National Plant Data Center, Baton Rouge, LA 70874-

4490 USA. Retrieved June 34, 2010, From http://plants.usda.gov/java/profile?symbol=RHAR4• Tree Shape Form and Type:Fragrant Sumac. (2010, June 4). NDSU. Retrieved June 23, 2010, from

www.ag.ndsu.edu/trees/handbook/th-3-53.pdf • Tree Bark:Fragrant Sumac. (2010, June 4). NDSU. Retrieved June 23, 2010, from

www.ag.ndsu.edu/trees/handbook/th-3-53.pdf• Twig:Fragrant Sumac. (2010, June 4). NDSU. Retrieved June 23, 2010, from

www.ag.ndsu.edu/trees/handbook/th-3-53.pdf• Leaf Description:Fragrant Sumac. (2010, June 4). NDSU. Retrieved June 23, 2010, from

www.ag.ndsu.edu/trees/handbook/th-3-53.pdf• Buds, Fruit, and Flowers:Fragrant Sumac. (2010, June 4). NDSU. Retrieved June 23, 2010, from

www.ag.ndsu.edu/trees/handbook/th-3-53.pdf• Habitat and Range:Fragrant Sumac. (2010, June 4). NDSU. Retrieved June 23, 2010, from

www.ag.ndsu.edu/trees/handbook/th-3-53.pdf• Uses:Fragrant Sumac. (2010, June 4). NDSU. Retrieved June 23, 2010, from

www.ag.ndsu.edu/trees/handbook/th-3-53.pdf

Figure Refrences• Figure 1: USDA, NRCS. (2010, June 24). The PLANTS Database. National Plant Data Center, Baton Rouge, LA 70874-4490 USA. Retrieved June 34, 2010,

From http://plants.usda.gov/java/profile?symbol=RHAR4• Figure2: Cook, W. (2009, May 17). Fragrant Sumac (Rhus aromatica). Home | Duke University. Retrieved June 24, 2010, from

http://www.duke.edu/~cwcook/trees/rhar.html• Figure 3:Cook, W. (2009, May 17). Fragrant Sumac (Rhus aromatica). Home | Duke University. Retrieved June 24, 2010, from

http://www.duke.edu/~cwcook/trees/rhar.html• Figure 4:Miller, T. (n.d.). Image Gallery. Welcome to the PLANTS Database | USDA PLANTS. Retrieved June 24, 2010, from

http://plants.usda.gov/java/largeImage?imageID=rhar4_008_avp.tif• Figure 5: Cook, W. (2009, May 17). Fragrant Sumac (Rhus aromatica). Home | Duke University. Retrieved June 24, 2010, from

http://www.duke.edu/~cwcook/trees/rhar.html• Figure 6: Cook, W. (2009, May 17). Fragrant Sumac (Rhus aromatica). Home | Duke University. Retrieved June 24, 2010, from

http://www.duke.edu/~cwcook/trees/rhar.html• Figure 7:Cook, W. (2009, May 17). Fragrant Sumac (Rhus aromatica). Home | Duke University. Retrieved June 24, 2010, from http://www.duke.edu/~

cwcook/trees/rhar.html• Figure 8:Cook, W. (2009, May 17). Fragrant Sumac (Rhus aromatica). Home | Duke University. Retrieved June 24, 2010, from

http://www.duke.edu/~cwcook/trees/rhar.html• Figure 9:USDA, NRCS. (2010, June 24). The PLANTS Database. National Plant Data Center, Baton Rouge, LA 70874-4490 USA. Retrieved June 34, 2010,

From http://plants.usda.gov• Figure 10:Hurst, S. (n.d.). Large image for Rhus aromatica (fragrant sumac) | USDA PLANTS. Welcome to the PLANTS Database | USDA PLANTS. Retrieved

June 24, 2010, from http://plants.usda.gov/java/nameSearch?keywordquery=Carya+cordiformis&mode=sciname