Bitternut hickory is a large hickory with compound leaves and yellow, elongated winter buds. The nuts are bitter and rarely eaten by people but are consumed by wildlife.
Habitat and range
In Maryland, bitternut hickory grows in rich, moist woods, floodplains, and on slopes, often with other hickories and oaks. It tolerates wetter soils than many other hickories.
Uses and significance
The wood is used for tool handles, lumber, and smoking. Although the nuts are inedible to people, they are eaten by squirrels and other animals. Bitternut is one of the more common hickories in the state.