MASSACHUSETTS FOREST TREES 



PIGNUT (Hicoria glabra Britton) 



THE Pignut is abundantly distributed throughout 

 Massachusetts. It seems to prefer the dry ridges 

 and hillsides and is usually in the company of other 

 trees. 



Naturally a tall tree, its height seldom exceeds fifty to 

 sixty feet and its diameter is from one to two feet. It 

 has a tapering trunk and a cylindrical head of relatively 

 narrow spread. The bark on the trunk is dark gray. 

 On old trunks it is comparatively smooth, 

 though often it is broken with plates, some- 

 what after the manner of the Shagbark. 



The leaves are alternate, compound, eight 

 to twelve inches long and composed of five 

 to seven leaflets. The individual leaflets 

 are rather small and narrow. 



PIGNUT 



Winter twig. 

 One-half natural size. 



PIGNUT HICKORY 



Leaf and fruit. One-third natural size. 



The fruit, which ripens in October, is borne singly 

 or in pairs and is very variable in shape. Sometimes 

 it is pear-shaped, sometimes round; at other times it 

 is egg-shaped. The fruit is usually small and the 

 husk thin. The wood is heavy, hard, strong, tough 

 and flexible. It is employed in the manufacture of 

 wagons, agricultural implements and tool handles. 



