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MOCKER NUT HICKORY. 

 Carya alba, (Linnaeus) K. Koch. 



FORM A large tree usually 50-75 ft. high with a diameter of about 2 ft. but may reach a height 

 of 90 ft. with a diameter of 3 ft. Crown narrow oblong to broad round-topped. Trunk often 

 swollen at base, in dense stands straight, clean, with little taper and free from branches for one- 

 half of its height. 



BARK Dark or light gray, 5-1 of an inch thick, close, not shaggy nor smooth, roughened by 

 Irregular furrows which separate broad, flat, close, more or less scaly and rounded ridges. See 

 Fig. 90. 



TWIGS Compared with the other Hickories very stout, usually decidedly downy, reddish-brown, 

 covered with numerous pale and longitudinally-elongated lenticels; pith angular. 



BUDS Alternate, more than 2-ranked. Terminal bud very large, ovate, 2/5-4/5 of an inch 

 long, densely hairy, usually blunt-pointed, covered with overlapping scales, the outer pair of 

 which drops oft" in autumn and exposes the inner yellowish-gray silky scales. Lateral buds reddish- 

 brown and do not split open very early. 



LEAVES Alternate, compound with 7-9 leaflets, 8-12 inches long. Leaflets lanceolate-obovate, 

 sharp-pointed at apex, toothed on margin, rounded or tapering at base, very fragrant, often 

 downy on lower surface. Leaf-stalks hairy, flattened, grooved, and enlarged at base. Upper pair 

 of leaflets largest with greatest width between the middle and the apex; lower pair often oblong- 

 lanceolate. 



LEAF-SCARS Similar to those of Shell-bark Hickory (Carya ovata). 



FLOWERS Appear about May when the leaves are half developed. Staminate and pistillate 

 flowers separate. Staminate borne in slender catkins 4-5 inches long, which are clustered in 3s 

 en a common stalk. Pistillate borne in 2-5-flowered pale hairy spikes. 



FRUIT Globular or ovoid, 15-2J inches long, with a very thick or hard husk which splits to 

 the middle or base. Nut globular, brownish, not evidently-flattened but 4-ridged towards apex, 

 with a very thick shell and comparatively small and sweet kernel. 



WOOD Similar to that of the Shell-bark Hickory (Carya ovata). See description page 106. 

 Has a somewhat wider sapwood which is very white in color whence its specific name alba. 

 Heartwood dark brown. 



DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERISTICS The Mocker Nut Hickory, also known as the Bull Nut 

 Hickory, the Big Bud Hickory and the White-heart Hickory, can be distinguished from the two 

 species of Shell-bark Hickory by its bark, which is rough and close and does not shag off, its 

 stouter twigs, its scurfy pubescent foliage and its globular fruit which contains a globular brownish 

 thick-shelled nut with a relatively small kernel. The buds are somewhat larger than those of the 

 Shell-bark Hickories and thicker than the Pignut and Bitter Nut. The kernel of the latter two 

 species is bitter and their leaflets are narrower and smoother. 



RANGE Massachusetts and Ontario, west to Nebraska, and south to Florida and Texas. 



DISTRIBUTION IN PENNSYLVANIA Found most commonly in the rich valleys in the east- 

 ern and southern parts of the State with local outposts in the central part. Also found in the 

 hardwood forest region in the western part. 



HABITAT Prefers rich, moist woods. Requires considerable moisture and sunlight. Does not 

 thrive in shaded situations. Found mainly in valleys and in fertile situations at the bottom of 

 slopes. 



IMPORTANCE OF THE SPECIES This species produces as valuable a wood as any of the 

 Hickories. Some think that the wood is better than that produced by our other native Hickories 

 because of the large amount of white sapwood. It is difficult to transplant on account of its 

 long taproot, hence it is advisable to plant the seeds rather than seedlings. Every effort which 

 one puts forth in developing and perpetuating this species in our forests, especially in the 

 farmer's woodlot, is Justified. The fruit is large but the kernel Is small and as a consequence it 

 has no special market value. 



