Juglans cinerea

Butternut                                                  

 

1141 Columbia Avenue, Lancaster PA

 

Joe Richardson

​

When measured in 2008, this tree had a trunk circumference of 176 inches which, together with its height and spread (see pabigtrees.com), makes it the largest Butternut in Lancaster County and the fourth largest in Pennsylvania.  A fungus (bark canker) has been attacking Butternuts in North America, and arborists expect that the species will eventually be endangered (it is already so listed in Canada).  [First photo is from pabigtrees.com.]

 

In addition to its delicious nuts, this amazing species has such medicinal bark and sap that Native Americans used Butternut to treat toothaches, arthritic joints, wounds and constipation; to aid pregnancy; and even to condition hair.  Indians also used the nut oil to ward off mosquitos and to treat tapeworms.