Bitternut Hickory - Carya cordiformis Walnut Family (Juglandaceae)

It has large, compound leaves, a 1 inch, four-part nut, and yellow fall color.1

The gray-green bark has tight narrow ridges which become scaly on older bark. The bright yellow terminal buds are showy in winter.1

The alternate, compound leaves have 7 to 11 lance-shaped leaflets. The leaves are yellow-green with serrate margins and are paler underneath. The fall color is yellow brown.1

The fruits are nuts with four-winged husks and are thin-shelled. The nut is bitter and inedible.1

References:
  1. Bitternut hickory. The Morton Arboretum. https://mortonarb.org/plant-and-protect/trees-and-plants/bitternut-hickory/. No Publication Date. Accessed December 04, 2023.
  2. https://mortonarb.org/plant-and-protect/trees-and-plants/bitternut-hickory/
  3. https://mdc.mo.gov/discover-nature/field-guide/bitternut-hickory
  4. https://mortonarb.org/app/uploads/2020/12/8111_ca_object_representations_media_23756_large-0x1120-c-default.jpg