Part 31

Bark: Light gray, divided by deep furrows into broad scaly ridges.

Twigs: Stout, greenish or orange-brown to gray, smooth or hairy, usually shiny, with white lenticels; pith chocolate-colored, divided by partitions; leaf scars alternate, shield-shaped, elevated, with 3 bundle traces.

Buds: Blunt at the tip, whitish, hairy, soft, up to ½ inch long.

Leaves: Alternate, pinnately compound, with up to 17 leaflets; leaflets up to 3 inches long and 2 inches wide, broadly lance-shaped, pointed at the tip, rounded at the asymmetrical base, finely toothed along the edges, yellow-green on the upper surface, paler on the lower surface, softly hairy and sometimes sticky.

Flowers: Borne separately but on the same tree, appearing when the leaves are partly grown, the staminate several in thick, yellow-green catkins, the pistillate much fewer in spikes, neither of them with petals.

Fruit: In groups of 2-5, ovoid-oblong, up to 2½ inches long, sticky-hairy, the husk thick, the nut pointed at one end and with well-developed wings, pale brown, the seed sweet.

Wood: Soft, light in weight, coarse-grained, pale brown.

Uses: Furniture, interior finishing; the nut is sought after as a delicacy.

Habitat: Bottomland woods.

Range: New Brunswick across to Minnesota, south to Arkansas, east to Georgia.

Distinguishing Features: The Butternut is distinguished by its bark pattern, its chocolate-colored, partitioned pith, and its distinctive fruits.

BLACK WALNUT Juglans nigra L.

Growth Form: Large tree up to 150 feet tall; trunk diameter up to 5 feet; crown broadly rounded; trunk straight, columnar, not buttressed at the base.

Bark: Black, thick, deeply furrowed.

Twigs: Stout, greenish or orange-brown, hairy, smooth and gray; pith brown, divided by partitions; leaf scars alternate, shield-shaped, elevated, with 3 bundle traces.

Buds: More or less rounded at the tip, pale brown, soft, hairy, up to ½ inch long.

Leaves: Alternate, pinnately compound, with 15-23 leaflets; leaflets up to 3½ inches long and 1½ inches wide, broadly lance-shaped, pointed at the tip, rounded at the asymmetrical base, toothed along the edges, yellow-green and smooth on the upper surface, paler and hairy on the lower surface, turning yellow in the autumn.

Flowers: Borne separately but on the same tree, appearing when the leaves are partly grown, the staminate several in thick, yellow-green, hairy catkins, the pistillate much fewer in small spikes, neither of them with petals.

Fruit: In groups of 1 or 2, spherical, up to 2 inches in diameter, green or yellow-green, slightly roughened, the husk thick, the nut very hard, oval, dark brown, deeply ridged, the seed sweet.

Wood: Hard, heavy, coarse-grained, dark brown.

Uses: The wood is used for furniture, interior finishing, cabinets; the nuts are edible.

Habitat: Rich woodlands.

Range: Massachusetts across to Minnesota, south to Texas, east to Florida.

Distinguishing Features: The Black Walnut is recognized by its characteristic buds, its chambered pith, and its fruits.

RED CEDAR Juniperus virginiana L.

Other Names: Juniper; Eastern Red Cedar.

Growth Form: Medium tree to 90 feet tall, usually much smaller; trunk diameter up to 3 feet; crown narrowly pyramidal or broad and rounded.

Bark: Reddish-brown, splitting into long shreds.