Butternut and black walnut are often confused. The following table illustrates some of the main differences between the two species.
| |
Butternut |
Black Walnut |
| Twigs |
- thick, buff-coloured
- quite downy
- chambered pith is dark brown
- distinct hairy fringe above each leaf scar
- upper margin of leaf scar straight across
|
- thick, orange-brown in colour
- slightly downy
- chambered pith is light brown
- no hairy fringe above leaf scar
- upper margin of leaf scar deeply notched
|
| Buds |
- downy
- usually two buds above each leaf scar
- terminal bud elongated and blunt
|
- slightly downy
- usually two buds above leaf scar
- terminal bud rounded and blunt
|
| Leaves |
- about 40 cm long
- compound
- 11-17 leaflets
- terminal leaflets same size as other leaflets
- leaflets are stalkless
- quite hairy underneath
- yellowish green
|
- about 30 cm long
- compound
- 15-23 leaflets
- terminal leaflet either smaller than other leaflets or missing
- leaflets are stalked
- slightly hairy underneath
- yellowish green
|
| Bark |
- ash-grey in colour and smooth when young
- separates into wide, intersecting, flat-topped ridges on mature tree
|
- light brown and scaly when young
- changes to dark brown with deep intersecting furrows on mature tree
|
| Fruit |
- oval in shape
- husk smooth with dense sticky hairs
- inner nut has jagged irregular edges
|
- round in shape
- husk slightly hairy
- inner nut has smooth edges
|
