Bitternut Hickory is a fairly common large tree of bottomland forests, distinguished by valvate (bud scales not overlapping) sulphur-yellow buds and usually having 9 leaflets per leaf. The leaves are not particularly fragrant, unlike several similar hickory species.

Flowering, Chatham Co., NC 5/11/03.

Male flowering catkins open in mid-spring.

Chapel Hill, NC 5/2/09.

Buds are a distinctive rich yellow.

Chapel Hill, NC 5/2/09.

Some more details of the golden-yellow, naked buds.

Vance Co., NC 5/20/10.

Vance Co., NC 5/20/10.

Vance Co., NC 5/20/10.

Female flowers are bizarre-looking.

Caswell Co., NC 5/21/10.

Female flowers.

Caswell Co., NC 5/21/10.

The sutures of the fruits are narrowly winged.

Durham Co., NC 9/6/08.

Durham Co., NC 9/6/08.

Similar species: the Sand Hickory also has 9 leaflets and yellowish buds, but grows in dry habitats, has silvery leaf undersides, and spicily fragrant leaves; the Water Hickory of the Coastal Plain lacks yellow buds, averages more leaflets (9-11), and has slightly slightly more curved (falcate) leaves.

Chapel Hill, NC 5/1/05.

Bark of a small tree.

Chapel Hill, NC 5/1/05.

Bark of a small stem.

Chapel Hill, NC 5/2/09.

Chapel Hill, NC 5/2/09.

Chapel Hill, NC 5/2/09.

Bark of a large tree. The bark is much tighter than on most hickories, lacking significant ridges and not peeling off in strips.

Durham Co., NC 9/6/08.

Bark of a large tree.

Chatham Co., NC 5/11/03.