What kind of nut is this?

Gail
by Gail

This nut has a sort of fruity smell & looks a little like cutting thru a walnut but is not a walnut. Owner is a friend & says it is not a walnut. Leaves on tree are quite small. We split one open he pulled off the tree & this is what it looks like.

Very odd outer green shell. Inside almost looks like multiple seeds in I r. I did not taste it lest it be poisonous.

Leaves are very small & rather sparse. Look closely & you can see a lot of these round nuts on it.

  17 answers
  • Sue Everhart Sue Everhart on Oct 25, 2018

    Could it be a pine cone we have something like that on a cedar and we have had fungus also. Just saying. You could send Mitchell’s nursery in king NC an email

  • Carol Carol on Oct 25, 2018

    If your friend who has the tree doesn't know what it is and that it is not a walnut, I think she is wrong because all nut trees (like pecan and walnuts etc...) have a green outer shell. That looks like a type of walnut or it could be a species hybrid. If it tastes good and the tree is beautiful WHY WORRY. Enjoy it as a special gift from God's Nail Scarred Hands and praise His Name.

    • See 3 previous
    • Mimi Mimi on Aug 01, 2021

      Because this is not the bible thumping pulpet.

  • Gail Gail on Oct 25, 2018

    Its not a pine cone. I know what those look like as well as cedars. I will send an email to Mitchell's Nursery in King, N. C. as you suggested. I really appreciate your help! I don't know who they are but am hoping they can identify it. I have sent them an email with pics. I will post what it is if they respond & tell me what it is.


    Many thanks again!



  • David David on Oct 25, 2018

    It looks like a Juniper berry.

  • Patsy Anne Dennison Patsy Anne Dennison on Oct 25, 2018

    It sounds like a Butternut Tree.My Grandfather gather them after frost. He put them In his grain sacks . And hung them in the grainery for the winter.

    In the late winter he would bring a large block of wood and a hammer.you hold the nut with the pointed end up hand hit it so

    Not too light hand no to hard or it will be in very small pieces.They are delicious.

  • Robbie Dendy Robbie Dendy on Oct 25, 2018

    It is a cypress tree nut. Squirrels love them!

  • Ann Ann on Oct 25, 2018

    Robbie Dendy is correct. It is a cypress tree. They would look lovely in a bowl for fall decor.

  • Jan Clark Jan Clark on Oct 25, 2018

    Seeing as you are in Greenville, I am pretty sure you have a Bald Cypress. The object you've collected is actually called a cone. Inside the cones are seeds. Collect the cones as they fall if you don't want more seedlings popping up. Or, if you want to plant new Bald Cypress, then gather the cones, let them dry a bit, crack them open and plant them.

  • Elise Elise on Oct 25, 2018

    Go to your state ‘s extension office where they know about bugs & plant diseases. Costs you nothing & you will get real info.

  • Gail Gail on Oct 25, 2018

    It is not a cypress. My best friend has 3 different kinds of cypress trees & it is not cypress. Limbs & leaves look nothing like a cypress.


    I'm going to check out the other suggestions which seem to be possibilities. I'm also going to make new pics to send to the nursery in N C as soon as I can.


    I really appreciate all the responses & suggestions to determine what kind of tree this is.

  • Yvonne Yvonne on Oct 25, 2018

    It looks like a black walnut, we had over fifty trees on our property and some were young and looked like your tree

  • Lina Splichal Lina Splichal on Oct 25, 2018

    This honestly looks like some kind of segmented fruit. I am highly interested to find out what it actually is.

  • Virginia Llorca Virginia Llorca on Oct 25, 2018

    Bald cypress.

  • Gail Gail on Oct 25, 2018

    I am researching on internet using every possible term I can think of to try & find it. So far nothing. Tomorrow, I'm going to try to take it to a nursery man who isn't too far away to see if he can identify it. It sure seems that it isn't anything of common growth around here.


    I'm wondering if it might be from another country that was brought to the USA. As soon as I find out what it is I will post it, that it unless someone else finds out first.

  • C Crow C Crow on Oct 26, 2018

    Looking forward to learn what it is!


  • Gail Gail on Oct 28, 2018

    The MYSTERY RESOLVED: Jan Clark & Virginia Llorica WAS correct & for the others of you saying it was a Cypress tree, when I didn't think so, I stand corrected, it is a "Bald Cypress". Honest, I had never seen one before. The balls are what really threw me.


    Robbie Dandy said squirrels love the nuts. Apparently they like the pecans in the surrounding areas better because they've left this tree alone. It is loaded with the balls!!! This would be a live ready made Christmas Tree if the balls were different color/s. Haha


    Thru this adventure, I learn a few things including what this tree is and there is also a Cypress Pine tree that looks very much like it. I also really learned just how knowledgeable " Our Hometalk Community" really is & that it is a wonderful place to ask questions & get answers to help with whatever is puzzling you.


    THANKS a BUNCH to everyone who joined in this discussion!!!


  • Agnes Chrzanowska Agnes Chrzanowska on Dec 31, 2021

    cypress tree ?