OF Ohio 



47 



PIGNUT HICKORY 



Carya glabra (Miller) Spach 



THE Pignut Hickory, also called Black Hickory, Brown 

 Hickory and Tightbark Hickory, is an important forest 

 tree. It produces valuable wood. 



The leaves are alternate, compound, 8 to 12 inches long 

 with 5 to 7 leaflets. Leaflets are long, narrow, sharp- 

 pointed, smooth, glossy. 

 They are slightly larger 

 than those of the Bitter- 

 nut Hickory. 



The flowers are similar 

 to those of the other 

 hickories. 



The fruit is pear-shaped 

 to spherical, with neck- 

 like projection at base. 

 The husk is thin, often 

 does not split or may split 

 to middle. The kernel is 

 usually small and bitter, 

 and not edible. 



The bark is close-fit- 

 ting, dark gray, marked 

 with shallow furrows, 

 does not shag off. The 

 twigs are smooth, tough, 

 reddish-brown, marked with pale dots. The buds are oval, 

 blunt-pointed, reddish-brown. 



The wood is similar to that of other hickories, but some- 

 what superior to Bitternut. It is sometimes classified as the 

 strongest and toughest of all the hickories. 



The Pignut Hickory is found from Maine to Minnesota, 

 south to Florida and Texas. It is common throughout 

 Ohio, except the west-central part of the State, where it is 

 rare. It is most common on dry ridges and hillsides, but 

 also occurs in moist, fertile, lowland soils. It is a medium- 

 sized tree, frequently reaching a height of 60 feet and di- 

 ameter of 2 feet. 



Closely related to the Pignut is the Mockernut Hickory — 

 Carya alba, (Linnaeus) K. Koch. It is also called Big Bud 

 and White-Heart Hickory, and can be distinguished by its 

 close-fitting, evidently furrowed bark that does not shag off, 

 its stout hairy twigs, its hairy leaves with 7 to 9 large leaf- 

 lets, its large, round, thick-shelled nut with thick husk and 

 small kernel. The buds are larger than those of any other 

 hickory. While the fruit is large, its kernel is small and 

 not edible. It is common to abundant throughout Ohio. 



PIGNUT HICKORY 

 One-fourth natural size. 



