Carya cordiformis

The bitternut hickory tree is a large pecan hickory and is member of the walnut or Juglandaceae family and is native to much of the eastern United States. It is a large tree and can reach over 40m in height.

• Leaves are compound, odd-pinnate, from 15–30 cm long, with 7–11 finely serrated, each lanciolate and 7–13 cm long. Leaves turn yellow in the fall.
• The species is monoecious. Male (staminate) flowers are in yellow-green hanging catkins typically in pairs of 3, up to 10 cm long; female (pistillate) flowers are small and yellowish-green, on short spikes.
• Fruit is a round inedible nut (a drupe) up to 2–3 cm long, each nut enclosed in green, 4-valved husk, usually hanging in clusters. Husks split when the nuts are ripe.
• Smooth gray bark develops ridges as it matures; buds turn a bright mustard yellow in winter, which can be a significant aid in tree identification.