The terminal BUDS are yellow with a powdery appearance which is why the tree is sometimes called yellowbud. The large leaf scars are heart-shaped with three circles of bundle scars . BARK stays fairly smooth for years, eventually developing tight, shallow furrows. Bitternut grows with other upland hardwoods and is rare in the U.P., occurring mostly in Menominee county. The central leaf stalk is fuzzy.
Husks start out green, sticky, and fuzzy and become dark brown with age.
Leaf scars are large with three groups of bundle scars . Terminal BUDS are about about a quarter to a third inch long and fuzzy. Side BUDS are knobby. BARK is firm and light to medium brown. The bark on larger trees is rough and separated by long raised ridges.