Handbook of Trees of the Southern States and Canad.' 



The Pignut Hickory in tlie forest attains 

 the heigiit ot 80-100 tt. witli trunk sometimes 

 3 or 4 ft. in diameter. When in the open 

 lields it forks rather low and develops an 

 oblong or obovoid top with strong upright and 

 pendulous often contorted branches. The bark 

 of trunk is of a grayish color and finally be- 

 comes rough with close scaly ridges. The 

 tree inhabits uplands and ridges in al)undance. 

 ospecially in tlie nortliern states, and is said 

 to be found at higher altitudes than any of 

 the other Hickories. 



The wood of the Pig-nut Hii/kory is hea\y. a 

 cvibi" foot when absolutely dry weighing 51.21 

 lbs., strong and tov.gh and is used in the 

 manufacture of tool-handles, agricultural im- 

 plements, etc., and for fuel.^ The nuts are ex- 

 tremely variable in quality, some being quite 

 astringent and others of pleasant flavor. 



Leaves 8-12 in. long, glabrous at matiirlt.v and 

 with 5-7 (rarely 9) leaflets which aro from oblong- 

 lanceolate to obovate. rounded and mostl.v un- 

 equal at base, sharply serratp. dark green above, 

 paler beneath, the uppor much larger than the 

 lowest : winter buds with S-K) imbricated scales, 

 the outer falling early, the innermost accrescent 

 and falling when about 1 in. long. Flo^vers in 

 May : staminate aments 3-7 in. long ; calyx-lobes 

 usually about equal but middle one narrower ; pis- 

 tillate in 2-ii-fllowered spikes : stigmas yellow. 

 Fruit obovoid-oblong or pyriform, usually com- 

 pressed, with thin husk tardily dehiscent and 

 smooth or somewhat angled brownish thick-shelled 

 nut having astringent or edible seed. 



1. Syn. Carya porcina Nutt. 



2. A. W., Ill, 6.5. 



