Butternut is a medium tree in the walnut family, with compound leaves and oblong, sticky husks that contain edible nuts. The bark is gray and often ridged; branches may have a chambered pith.
Habitat and range
In Maryland, butternut grows in rich, well-drained soils along streams and on slopes, often mixed with other hardwoods. It is much less common than black walnut and has declined due to butternut canker.
Uses and significance
The nuts are edible and were used by Native Americans and settlers. The wood is used for carving and cabinetry. Butternut is threatened by an introduced fungal canker; conservation efforts focus on resistant trees.