Help me identify New Jersey tree, please.

[Keith_Beef]

Hello, all.

I know there are a good few people from over the pond in BCUK, so I hope I'll be able to get a result on this.

I spotted a tree growing in several locations in Bergen County, north New Jersey.
I've seen this same tree growing in France, too, but much more infrequently, which makes me think it might be a native to North America that has been introduced to Europe as a decorative species.

Here are thumbnails:

Here are links to some bigger pictures:
http://klrhodes.club.fr/images/Strange_tree/leaves_fruit_small.jpg (142KB)
http://klrhodes.club.fr/images/Strange_tree/leaves_fruit.jpg (465KB)
http://klrhodes.club.fr/images/Strange_tree/bark_small.jpg (167KB)
http://klrhodes.club.fr/images/Strange_tree/bark.jpg (570KB)

The leaves are very similar to White Ash, but as you can see from the fruit, this is not an ash tree.

I was wondering about a relative of the Walnut... Maybe a Hickory of some sort?


Keith.

 

[Tantalus]

my 2p worth says it is a walnut tree

if that helps

Tant

 

[Fallow Way]

I would say Walnut to, though possibly Black Walnut(Fuglans nigra), which is an American walnut, just going from the deep fissuring of the bark and slightly more ornate leaves. I cant see clearly enough if there was any serration on the leaf edge which would support it being a Black Walnut, although the leaf shape itself is more of that of the common Walnut (Fuglans regina).


That was more conjecture and pondering rather than any actual help wasnt it lol

 

[Keith_Beef]

I would say Walnut to, though possibly Black Walnut(Fuglans nigra), which is an American walnut, just going from the deep fissuring of the bark and slightly more ornate leaves. I cant see clearly enough if there was any serration on the leaf edge which would support it being a Black Walnut, although the leaf shape itself is more of that of the common Walnut (Fuglans regina).


That was more conjecture and pondering rather than any actual help wasnt it lol

Excellent!

Just one thing, the European walnut is juglans regia. When I googled for fuglans nigra the machine suggested juglans nigra, which got me this:

http://www.mntca.org/Reference_manual/Tree_info/Images/Juglans/juglans nigra, nuts - 7-17.jpg

As a bit of side interest, the French term for hickory is "noyer blanc d'Amérique", which means (literally) "white walnut-tree of America"

 

[Fallow Way]

Yeah sorry, thats me being stupid with my Latin lol

You can see the teeth on the leaves clear on that picture, which arnt visable on the one you supplied. It was just the deep texture of the bark that made me offer the possiblity of it being Black Walnut.

 

[Bob Hurley]

It appears to me that it might also be a Butternut tree, Juglans cinerea, which I believe is also called a white walnut in the Northern USA. A butternut tree tends to be a bit smaller than a black walnut, and the nuts are larger - after being hulled, they are oblong instead of round.[size=+3][/size]

 

[match]

Obvious suggestion is to crack open one of the fruits and see!

Even if its not clear what in the fruit, if its a walnut the juices will dye your skin a lovely purpley-brown/blakc colour

 

[Keith_Beef]

Obvious suggestion is to crack open one of the fruits and see!

Even if its not clear what in the fruit, if its a walnut the juices will dye your skin a lovely purpley-brown/blakc colour

Yes, if I get a chance, I'll do that.

Here in France, I cut one open a few (6 or 7) years ago and the juice was quite corrosive. It stained a "stainless" steel knife and left a permanent stain on the chopping board.
That particular tree is no longer standing (cut down for building work), and the other one near my flat has no fruit on it. When I get back to New Jersey, I'll see what I can do.


Keith

 

[Keith_Beef]

It appears to me that it might also be a Butternut tree, Juglans cinerea, which I believe is also called a white walnut in the Northern USA. A butternut tree tends to be a bit smaller than a black walnut, and the nuts are larger - after being hulled, they are oblong instead of round.[size=+3][/size]

Thanks, a quick search for juglans cinerea found a very useful page:
http://plants.usda.gov/cgi_bin/topics.cgi?earl=plant_profile.cgi&symbol=JUCI

I'm a bit confused by this information, though:
Suitability/Use

Berry/Nut/Seed Product: Yes
Palatable Human: No
Toxicity: Slight​

Maybe the nut can be eaten, but the leaves are unpalatable and slightly toxic?

The information for juglans nigra is very similar, but is given as "palatable".
Suitability/Use

Berry/Nut/Seed Product: Yes
Palatable Human: Yes
Toxicity: Slight​

Keith.