16 



THE COMMERCIAL HICKORIES. 



In this publication these more recently described species are treated 

 as varieties and only 8 main types are described; of these, 4 belong 

 in the pecan group and 4 are true hickories. 



THE PECAN HICKORIES. 



PECAN. 



In the pecan group, the true pecan (Hicoria pecan) is the most 

 important because of the value of its nuts. The pecan is the largest 



member of the genus. 

 Sarge^records a height 

 of 170* feet with a trunk 

 from 5 to 6 feet in diam- 

 eter. 



The distinguishing 

 characteristics of the pe- 

 can are slender branch- 

 lets terminated by long 

 slender buds covered 

 with a dark-brown glan- 

 dular pubescence, resem- 

 bling those of the wal- 

 nuts, leaves with 9 to 

 15 slender leaflets, and 

 elongated, edible nuts 

 about 1 inch in length 

 with thin, ridged husk 

 and thin, brown, bony 

 shells. The bark is dark 

 brown in color, close and 



FIG. 3. Nutmeg hickory (Hicoria myristicseformis). Twig, finely ridged. 



natural size; leaf and fruit, one-third natural size. -^ -... .. 



Pecan cultivation is 



now receiving considerable attention, especially in the Gulf States, 

 and a number of improved varieties are being introduced. Most of 

 the nuts of commerce, however, still come from forest trees in 

 Louisiana and Texas. 



WATER HICKORY. 



The water hickory (Hicoria aquatica), commonly known as the 

 "bitter pecan," bears a strong resemblance to the pecan, especially 

 in the buds, twigs, and leaves. The bark, however, is more scaly 

 and is light gray in color, and the fruit will readily distinguish it 

 from any other hickory. It is usually about an inch long. The 

 husk is thin and splits to the base, and the shell is soft and thin. The 

 nut is flattened, often sharply angled, and the kernel is very bitter. 



