Practical
Plants

Carya cordiformis

Bitternut

a perennial woody deciduous member of the Carya genus in the family Juglandaceae.

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Taxonomy and growth

Genus
Carya
Life cycle
perennial
Foliage
deciduous
Woodiness
woody
Growth rate
slow
Height
25 m
Spread
15 m
Fertility
Self fertile, Wind
Flower type
monoecious
Pollinators
Wind

Uses

Edible uses

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Seed - raw or cooked[4][5]. Thin shelled but bitter and astringent[15][6]. Even squirrels tend to pass it over[8]. The seed is about 3cm long[10]. The seed ripens in late autumn and, when stored in its shell in a cool place, will keep for at least 6 months[K].

Plant part
Seed

Medicinal uses

Historical medicinal uses. These records describe reported uses. They do not establish safety or effectiveness. Ask a qualified health professional before using any plant medicinally.

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

The oil from the seeds has been used in the treatment of rheumatism[8]. The bark is diuretic and laxative[11].

Product or use
Antirheumatic
Product or use
Diuretic
Product or use
Laxative

Material uses

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

An oil expressed from the seeds has been used as an illuminant in oil lamps[10]. Often used as a potted stock for grafting varieties of pecans (C. illinoensis)[9]. Wood - heavy, very hard, strong, elastic, tough, close grained[15][9][10]. It weighs 47lb per cubic foot[9]. Although the wood tends to be brittle, it has an amazing quality of shock-resistance and is used for hoops, tool handles etc, though it is considered to be inferior to other hickories[15][9][10]. A very good fuel, burning well and giving off a lot of heat[10].

Product or use
Fuel
Product or use
Oil
Product or use
Wood

Ecology and functions

Ecosystem niche
Canopy

Environment

Range
Eastern N. America - Maine to Quebec and south to Florida.
Habitat
Low wet to dry woods, stream banks and borders of swamps[12][15], tolerating a range of soils[10].
Light
full sun
Shade tolerance
no shade
Water
moderate
Hardiness
Zone 4+
Soil textures
sandy, loamy, clay
Soil pH
acid, neutral, alkaline
Tolerates Nutritionally Poor Soil
No
Drought
intolerant

Propagation

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Seed - requires a period of cold stratification. It is best sown in a cold frame as soon as it is ripe[14]. Stored seed should be kept moist (but not wet) prior to sowing and should be sown in a cold frame as soon as possible[14]. Where possible, sow 1 or 2 seeds only in each deep pot and thin to the best seedling. If you need to transplant the seedlings, then do this as soon as they are large enough to handle, once more using deep pots to accommodate the tap root. Put the plants into their permanent positions as soon as possible, preferably in their first summer, and give them some protection from the cold for at least the first winter[78, K]. Seed can also be sown in situ so long as protection is given from mice etc and the seed is given some protection from cold[7] (a plastic bottle with the top and bottom removed and a wire mesh top fitted to keep the mice out is ideal)

Cultivation

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Prefers a deep moisture-retentive loam in a sunny sheltered position, requiring a good summer for best development[1][13][3][7]. Slow growing[7]. This is the hardiest and best growing member of this genus in Britain[2], unfortunately the seed is bitter[15]. Hybridizes in the wild with C. illinoensis[12]. Hybridizes with other members of this genus[7]. Plants are strongly tap-rooted and should be planted in their permanent positions as soon as possible[1][3]. Sowing in situ would be the best method so long as the seed could be protected from mice[1][7]. Trees are late coming into leaf (usually late May to June) and lose their leaves early in the autumn (usually in October)[3]. During this time they cast a heavy shade. These factors combine to make the trees eminently suitable for a mixed woodland planting with shrubs and other trees beneath them[3]. Plants in this genus are notably resistant to honey fungus[7]. Most species in this genus have quite a wide range of distribution and, in order to find trees more suited to this country, seed from the most appropriate provenances should be sought[3]. Most trees growing in Britain at present tend to only produce good seed after hot summers[3]. Trees are self-fertile but larger crops of better quality seeds are produced if cross-pollination takes place[10].

References

  1. F. Chittendon. RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956 Oxford University Press 1951-00-00

    ↩1↩2↩3

  2. Bean. W. Trees and Shrubs Hardy in Great Britain. Vol 1 - 4 and Supplement. Murray 1981-00-00

    ↩

  3. ? The Plantsman. Vol. 9. 1986 - 1987. Royal Horticultural Society 1986-00-00

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4↩5↩6

  4. Yanovsky. E. Food Plants of the N. American Indians. Publication no. 237. U.S. Depf of Agriculture.

    ↩

  5. Kunkel. G. Plants for Human Consumption. Koeltz Scientific Books 1984-00-00 ISBN 3874292169

    ↩

  6. Facciola. S. Cornucopia - A Source Book of Edible Plants. Kampong Publications 1990-00-00 ISBN 0-9628087-0-9

    ↩

  7. Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press 1992-00-00 ISBN 0-333-47494-5

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4↩5↩6

  8. Lauriault. J. Identification Guide to the Trees of Canada Fitzhenry and Whiteside, Ontario. 1989-00-00 ISBN 0889025649

    ↩1↩2

  9. Vines. R.A. Trees of North Texas University of Texas Press. 1982-00-00 ISBN 0292780206

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4

  10. Elias. T. The Complete Trees of N. America. Field Guide and Natural History. Van Nostrand Reinhold Co. 1980-00-00 ISBN 0442238622

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4↩5↩6↩7

  11. Moerman. D. Native American Ethnobotany Timber Press. Oregon. 1998-00-00 ISBN 0-88192-453-9

    ↩

  12. Fernald. M. L. Gray's Manual of Botany. American Book Co. 1950-00-00

    ↩1↩2

  13. Howes. F. N. Nuts. Faber 1948-00-00

    ↩

  14. Sheat. W. G. Propagation of Trees, Shrubs and Conifers. MacMillan and Co 1948-00-00

    ↩1↩2

  15. Sargent. C. S. Manual of the Trees of N. America. Dover Publications Inc. New York. 1965-00-00 ISBN 0-486-20278-X

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4↩5

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