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Common Name: Bitternut

General Information

Carya cordiformis is a deciduous tree that can grow up to 25.00 metres tall.
It is harvested from the wild for local use as a food, medicine and source of materials.

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

, ,

Range

Eastern N. America - Maine to Quebec and south to Florida.

Habitat

Low wet to dry woods, stream banks and borders of swamps[, ], tolerating a range of soils[].

Properties

Edibility Rating
Medicinal Rating
Habit	Deciduous Tree
Height	25.00 m
Growth Rate	Slow
Pollinators	Wind
Self-fertile	Yes
Cultivation Status	Wild

Cultivation Details

Prefers a deep moisture-retentive loam in a sunny sheltered position, requiring a good summer for best development[, , , ]. Slow growing[].
This is the hardiest and best growing member of this genus in Britain[], unfortunately the seed is bitter[].
Hybridizes in the wild with C. illinoensis[]. Hybridizes with other members of this genus[].
Plants are strongly tap-rooted and should be planted in their permanent positions as soon as possible[, ]. Sowing in situ would be the best method so long as the seed could be protected from mice[, ].
Trees are late coming into leaf (usually late May to June) and lose their leaves early in the autumn (usually in October)[]. 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[].
Plants in this genus are notably resistant to honey fungus[].
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[]. Most trees growing in Britain at present tend to only produce good seed after hot summers[].
Trees are self-fertile but larger crops of better quality seeds are produced if cross-pollination takes place[].

Edible Uses

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

Medicinal

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

Other Uses

An oil expressed from the seeds has been used as an illuminant in oil lamps[].
Often used as a potted stock for grafting varieties of pecans (C. illinoensis)[].
Wood - heavy, very hard, strong, elastic, tough, close grained[, , ]. It weighs 47lb per cubic foot[]. 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[, , ]. A very good fuel, burning well and giving off a lot of heat[].

Propagation

Seed - requires a period of cold stratification. It is best sown in a cold frame as soon as it is ripe[]. Stored seed should be kept moist (but not wet) prior to sowing and should be sown in a cold frame as soon as possible[]. 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[, ]. 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[] (a plastic bottle with the top and bottom removed and a wire mesh top fitted to keep the mice out is ideal)