165 



An Abnormality in the Nut of Hicoria Ovata (Mill) 



Britton. 



By John S. Wright. 



The abnormal hiekoi-y nut figured and described here was one of a 

 lot purchased in the market. In all outward appearances it was normal, 

 the peculiarities were noted in cracking it. Fig. 2. a transverse section of 

 a normal nut, shows the relative proportion of shell and seed. Fig. 3. 

 transverse section of the alinormal fruit, shows the cavity one-celled and 

 greatly reduced l)y the tliickened walls (P). Figs. 3 and 4 show the in- 

 terior filled with a nut somewhat like that of the hazel; (s) the walls hard 

 and shell-like, and (K) the kernel, folded. as indicated by the convolution 

 on one side. Tlie kernel had a bland, oily taste, faintly reseml)ling that 

 of the hazel nut. At the apex the tissues of the shell of this smaller nut 

 appear to be continuous with those of the outer shell (Tp), The inner 

 nut had a jiedicel. indicated (st) in the figure. In cracking, this pedicel 

 separated from the body of the small nut along a definite line. The shaft 

 of this pedicel reached through the thick outer shell and readily sei>arated 

 from the surrounding tissues. 



In view of the fact that the hickory nut is not extensively cultivated 

 and apparently has not been observed hybridizing to any extent, or other- 

 wise modified by breeding, the occurrence of this deviation from the type 

 is deemed worthy of notice. 



3,— Trans &«< 







3_Tro.n%.a8-c. fl.Vporm.al tt»i. 



