BUTTERNUT  

The butternut, Juglans cinerea (family Juglandaceae, order Juglandales), is a large tree that reaches a height of 30 m (100 ft); it has gray bark and 11-19 oblong and pointed leaflets. It is one of the hardiest northern NUT trees but is frequently short-lived because of its susceptibility to fungal and virus bunch diseases. The wood is hard, light colored, and is used in furniture making and for interior trim. Butternuts are propagated by SEED and, with difficulty, by GRAFTING. Black WALNUT, J. nigra, can be used as a rootstock. Juice from the nut husk and inner bark of the butternut and black walnut has a characteristic staining property. Butternuts are MONOECIOUS and grow better than the black walnut on poor soil. CATKINS elongate before shedding pollen. Female flowers are pubescent in short racemes of 2-5. Fruits are 5-10 cm (2-4 in) in length with four distinct, irregular ribs, and a sticky pubescent husk surrounding a thick shell containing a high-quality kernel.