WATER HICKORY. SHAGOBARK HICKORY. 85 



loamy or clay soils in all parts of the State, but is abundant only 

 in the mountains, where it is the largest and most common 

 hickory. 



The fruit is borne plentifully at short intervals, and seedlings 

 are frequent in the mountains, especially in moist opten woods. 



The leaves consist of 5 to 9 small, narrow, acute, smoothish 

 leaflets. The dark green fruit is rounded or slightly egg-shaped, 

 with a very thin husk, opening half way down when ripe. The 

 shell of the white, smooth nut is so thin that it can be broken with 

 the fingers. The kernel is intensely bitter. The yellow winter- 

 buds are small, elongated, and slightly rounded or pointed. 



The wood is heavy, very hard, strong:, and tough, and checks 

 badly in drying; dark brown in color; the sapwood lighter, or 

 often nearly white. The wood is inferior to that of the other 

 hickories, but is used for hoops, ox yokes and fuel. 



Hicoria aquatica, Britton. 



(WATER-BITTERNUT HICKORY. WATER HICKORY. 

 SWAMP HICKORY.) 



A tree, with rough, somewhat furrowed bark, reaching a height 

 of 100 and a diameter of 3 feet, or generally much smaller. 



It occurs from Virginia through the coast region to Florida, 

 along the Gulf shore to Texas, and northward to southern Illinois ; 

 reaching its best development on the lower Mississippi and Yazoo 

 rivers. 



In this State, where it is confined to the coastal plain, it grows to 

 an average height of 40 to 50 feet. (Fig. 16, p. 86.) 



Young seedlings are uncommon in -this State, and are found 

 only on alluvium, and then usually in spots where trees have been 

 cut. 



There are 7 to 13 smooth, pointed, slightly toothed leaflets. 

 The fruit is roundish, with a thin husk 4-parted to the base. The 

 thin-shelled, 4-angled nut contains a very bitter kernel. The flat- 

 tened winter-buds are covered with a rusty down. The water- 

 bitternut hickory has a poorly developed taproot and numerous 

 strong lateral roots. 



