165 



An Abnormality in the Xut of Hicoria Ovata (Mill) 



Britton. 



By Johx S. Wright. 



The abnormal hickoi-y iint tignred aud (lescribed here was one of a 

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

 the peculiarities were noted in orackin.u: it. Fig. 2. a transverse section of 

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

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

 greatly reduced by tlic tliickened walls (l*i. Figs. ?> and 4 show the in- 

 terior tilled with a nut somewhat like that of the hazel: (si the walls hard 

 and shell-like, and (Ki the kernel, folded as indicated by the convolution 

 on one side. Tlie kernel had a l)land. oily taste, faintly resembling 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 ])edicel. indicated (sti 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 separated 

 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. 



J-LiUtiov 0^ WaxrruA UvA. 

 Off «aray\c«, ■ 



IfirowJlW th.«. 



Rtnormal UmA-. 



3 — TtQ-nb ai-c. Kbnormal Vu^. 



