The walnut/butternut group (Juglans spp.) contains 15 species which grow in South America [6], Eurasia [4] and North America [5]. Of the butternuts, one species grows in the United States, American butternut (J. cinerea), and three in the Orient (J. ailantifolia, J. cathayensis and J. mandshurica). The word juglans is the classic Latin name of walnut, meaning nut of Jupiter.
Other Common Names: American white walnut, grey walnut, lemon walnut, oil-bean-nut, oilnut, walnut, white walnut.
Distribution: Butternut is native to the eastern United States from Tennessee and western North Carolina north to southern Ontario and Quebec. Its distribution is scattered, never growing in pure stands, at the edges of forests or in the open. It is found in association with cherry, basswood, oak, walnut, ash, maple, elm and hemlock.
The Tree: Butternut trees reach heights of 100 ft (30 m), with a 3 ft (1 m) diameter.
General Wood Characteristics: The narrow sapwood of butternut is white to light brown, while the heartwood is chestnut brown with red tinges. The growth rings are distinct, with a marked difference between the size of the earlywood and latewood pores. Butternut is similar to black walnut, but lighter in color and weight. It has no characteristic odor or taste.
Weighta
Weight
Moisture Specific lb/ft3 kg/m3
content gravity
Green 0.36 46 737
12% 0.38 27 433
Ovendry 0.40 NA NA
aReferences: specific gravity, green and
12%, (98); specific gravity, ovendry,
(59); weight, (59).
Mechanical propertiesa,b
Property Green Dry
MOE 0.97 106 6.688 GPa 1.18 106 8.136 GPa
lbf/in2 lbf/in2
MOR 5.40 103 37.233 MPa 8.10 103 55.850 MPa
lbf/in2 lbf/in2
C| | 2.42 103 16.686 MPa 5.11 103 35.233 MPa
lbf/in2 lbf/in2
C 0.22 103 1.517 MPa 0.46 103 3.172 MPa
lbf/in2 lbf/in2
WML 8.2 56.539 kJ/m3 8.2 56.539
in-lbf/in3 in-lbf/in3 kJ/m3
Hardness 390 lbf 1734.72 N 490 lbf 2179.52 N
Shear| | 0.76 103 5.240 MPa 1.17 103 8.067 MPa
lbf/in2 lbf/in2
aThe wood is lightweight, weak in bending, and weak in end
compression. It is soft,
but not stiff, and rates high in shock resistance.
bReference (98).
Drying and shrinkagea,b
Percentage of shrinkage
(green to final moisture
content)
Type of 0% MC 6% MC 20% MC
shrinkage
Tangential 8.1 5.1 2.1
Radial 3.6 2.7 1.1
Volumetric 12.5 8.5 3.5
aReferences: 0% MC, (98); 6% and 20%
MC, (90).
Kiln drying schedulea
4/4, 5/4, 8/4 10/4 12/4 16/4
Condition 6/4 stock stock stock stock
stock
Standard T10-E4 T8-E3 NA NA NA
aReferences (6, 86).
Working Properties: Buttternut generally has a straight grain, works easily with tools, and takes a rich, lustrous finish.
Durability: Rated as slightly or nonresistant to heartwood decay.
Preservation: No information available at this time.
Uses: Lumber, furniture, boxes, crates, mill work, veneer.
Toxicity: No information available at this time.
Additional Reading: 29, 55, 68, 74, 85. 55, 66, 68, 74, 79. 28, 29, 42, 43, 44, 48, 50, 55, 56, 68, 72, 73, 74, 79, 92, 97, 102. 74, 75, 77, 99, 106. 101.