Black Walnut Identification

[keving98]

Sorry to have to ask for help. I've stared at Black Walnut and Butternut pictures until I got a headache and I'm still not sure. Can someone kindly look at the following images and let me know if I have a Black Walnut or not?

http://www.cageynet.com/temp/walnut.htm

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Kevin G

 

[TreePointer]

Check out the descriptions and pictures in this link:
http://www.hort.purdue.edu/ext/senior/fruits/blackwalnut5.htm

Excerpt:

Black walnut leaves generally have more leaflets (15-23) compared to butternut (11-19). The leaflet size is of black walnut is typically smaller than butternut. Also butternut leaves are hairy on their midvein, while black walnut is hairless.​

 

[S Mc]

Kevin, welcome to the site.

The Black walnut will not have a terminal leaflet (which your pictures appear to display the absence as well), so I am going with Black walnut.

The Butternut DOES have a terminal leaflet. This is a helpful diagnostic.

The bud scales are also different so if you could post a picture of a twig, that might help us confirm. I also like to see the whole tree.

Black walnuts will typically have darker bark. The butternut, to me, almost looks whitewashed in comparison.

Sylvia

P.S. As with all things in nature, there are the exceptions to the rule. This is why looking at many of the characterisitcs are helpful, rather than a single determining factor.

 

[keving98]

Thanks everyone.

I posted more pictures as Sylvia suggested.

http://cageynet.com/temp/walnut.htm

Thanks again.

Kevin G

 

[S Mc]

Kevin, your photos show terminal leaflets, however, I am still going with Black walnut. The following information is from Ohio State Univ. website.

Butternut: "This tree may also be distinguished from black walnut by the velvet collars just above the leaf scars left by the previous year's leaves. Pith is dark brown in color, chambered after the first season, and a good identification characteristic."

Black walnut: "Leaf scars lack a hairy, felt-like margin on the upper edge of the leaf scar. Pith in the twigs is buff-colored and chambered after the first season."

So if you have a second year twig you want to disect, you might get a definitive id.

However, here is a link to a butternut stem, which does not look like your stem.

http://www.treetopics.com/juglans_cinerea/butternut_2972b.jpg

Here is a link to a black walnut stem (ignore the dead tip and look at the junction of the leaf) which looks like your stem.

http://www.plantmanagementnetwork.org/pub/php/brief/2007/walnut/image/StemCanker4c.jpg

These trees are much easier to tell apart when they are mature. I think I now have your headache.

Sylvia

 

[keving98]

Thanks for all your hard work Sylvia.

I have two of these and I'll be happy they're either. I'll wait for a few years and try again.

Thanks again.

Kevin G

p.s. turns out there's a very old stand of black walnut trees not 100 yards from the tree in question