CARyA. • JUGLANDACE^. 183 



particularly when young ; the terminal leaflet with a tapering cuneate base. Sterile amenta 

 3-4 inches long, somewhat pubescent ; the bracts at their junction hnear-lanceolate, spreading. 

 Calyx-scales somewhat equally 3-lobed ; the lateral lobes obtuse ; middle one acute : antheri 

 hairy, 4-celled. Drupes of two forms, which are pretty constant in the same tree : one of 

 them pyriform, and resembling small unripe figs ; the other roundish-obovate, splitting about 

 half way down into four valves, which are coriaceous and rather thin. Nut slightly angular ; 

 the kernel small, but rather sweet. 



Rich woodlands, in rather dry soil. Fl. May. Fr. October. The wood of this tree is 

 considered the toughest of all the hickories. It is the kind most frequently used for making 

 splint brooms. Michaux remarks that it is distinguished in the winter from other species of 

 the genus, by its brown slender shoots. 



4. Carya amara, Nutt. Bitter-nut. Swamp Hickory. 



Leaflets 7-9, oblong-lanceolate, acuminate, conspicuously serrate, smooth on both sides ; 

 drupes ovoid-spherical, with prominent sutures above ; nuts smooth and even, with a thin 

 brittle shell.— iVM«. gen. 2. p. 220 ; Ell. sk. 2. p. 626 ; Beck, hot. p. 336 ; Hook. fl. Bor.- 

 Am. 2. p. 144. Juglans amara, Michx. f. sylv. 1. t. 33. 



A large tree. Leaflets mostly 7, and sometimes as few as 5 ; the lateral one and upper 

 pairs 4-6 inches long, rather broad at the base, sharply serrate, of a deep green color. 

 Sterile aments long and slender, growing from the sides of the young shoots. Drupes dark 

 green, an inch and a half long, coriaceous ; the valves separating about half way down. Nut 

 obcordate ; the shell very thin : kernel bitter and astringent. 



Wet woods, and on the borders of rivers and swamps ; frequent. Fl. May. Fr. October. 

 The wood of this species is considered as not equal in strength to the other hickories, and 

 far inferior to them for fuel. 



Besides the above species, it is probable that C. sulcata, Nult. (Juglans laciniosa, Micfuc. 

 f. sylv.) is a native of New-York, but I have not found it within the limits of the State. The 

 hickories are extremely difiicult to determine without the ripe fruit. According to Michaux, 

 the Bitter-nut may be known in winter by its large yellow naked buds. 



