- compound , pubescent (hairy leaves), some glabrous (no hairs). Oily hairs on walnut/butternut leaves.
- husked nut
This is where things diverge...
- similar flowers, although walnut stamens (pollen flowers) are not branched like hickories. Walnut pollin buds appear conelike. (There are photos in this board to search of pollen buds emerging as conelike)
- vascular bundle scars are in 3's U-shaped, but some are scattered.
Walnut female flower has a 2-4 celled pistil (ovary), style (pollen germination tube) and 2 plumose (feather-like) stigmas (pollen sticks there from male flower). Hickory has a bract with three bracteoles (protect the over wintering flower), a 1-celled ovary with 2 attached stigmas.
- Walnut has a chambred pith and hickory doesn't.
- the shape of a butternut is similar to pecan, only harder.
- butternut has oily hairs on the seed husk.
A person really has to know their floral and leave parts to see the similarities. I'm no expert on what pecan/hickory flowers look like, I'm not in their range. I happen to have walnut and butternut on my lawn that have flowered and produced fruit. So I have been able to get close and personal with them.
