The Wood Database contains information about the treeButternut, a common tree in North America, is on the Tree Guide at arborday.org
Heartwood is a light to medium tan, sometimes with a reddish tint.Grain patterns are formed by growth rings.The wood is pale and white.
Endgrain: Semi-ring-porous; medium-large earlywood pores gradually decreasing to small latewood ones; tyloses occasionally to abundantly present; growth rings distinct; rays barely visible without a lens.
Decay resistance is rated as moderately durable to non-durable.Also vulnerable to insect attack.
It is easy to work with both hand and machine tools.Being so soft, Butternut has a tendency to leave some fuzzy surfaces after planing or sanding.The glues and stains finish well.
No further health reactions have been associated with any type of wood dust.There are articles about Wood Allergies and Toxicity.
lumber and carving blanks are available.The price for a domestic hardwood is in the mid range.
The wood species is not listed in the CITES Appendices or the Red List of Threatened Species.Many Butternut trees in North America are afflicted by a disease called Butternut canker.The US Fish and Wildlife Service has listed the Butternut as a federal concern due to its rapid decline.In Canada, the tree is protected as well.
White walnuts and black walnuts are closely related.The difference is not black and white, but the wood of Butternut is considerably lighter-colored than BlackWalnut, as well as being very soft and lightweight.
If you look at the fruit of the tree, you can see that it is oblong or round.The commercial potential of the fruit is more valuable than the lumber.Butternuts are not related to Butternut squash.
The growth rings in the endgrain of the Butternut trees are not as straight as they should be, which can be seen in processed lumber.
I have been making items from it for a long time, including pens, gun stock accents, knife scales, bowls, and boxes.It looks like the heartwood of a yellow poplar, not so much green but more yellow, with tans and cream colors.It has the same grain figure as Black walnuts with burls, Curls and feather grain.It is soft but machines are easy to use.I did not knock off diamonds when I checkered it.Black sands to a smooth surface and finishes easily.
I don't know from the photo.Would you be able to take pictures of the twigs from the tree?The best way to distinguish this species from Japanese walnuts is by its twigs.
I haven't seen this before and it's hard to cut.Thank you for taking the time to reply.