50 Bulletin of the University of Texas 



2. Bud scales numerous, imbricated, fruit not 

 winged as above. The shell of the nut is 

 always thick and bony. 



(1) Bark separating from trunk in 



shaggy plates, leaflets 5-7 6 H. ovata. 



(2) Bark not separating as above; 



a. Leaflets 7-9 7 H. alba. 



b. Leaflets 5-7 8 H. glabra. 



1. Hicoria pecan (Marsh) Britton. Pecan. A tall tree 

 100 to 170 in height and 6 in diameter with an enlarged, 

 buttressed base. Trees growing in the open have a rounded 

 crown which is widespreading. Leaves 12' to 20' in length 

 with 9-17 leaflets which are lanceolate, long pointed, curved, 

 serrate 2%'-6' long, rounded, or wedge-shaped at the unequal 

 base, hairy when young, becoming smooth with asre. Fruit 

 in clusters of 3-11, oblong J%'-2%' long, the husk splitting 

 to below the middle. The nut is ovoid to ovoid-oblong, red- 

 dish brown, nearly cylindrical. 



In the Mississippi valley from Indiana to Iowa, south to 

 Alabama and Texas. In Texas it occurs -along streams cen- 

 tral and southwestern. 



The wood is heavy, hard, but not strong and is less val- 

 uable than the other hickories. The nuts are the most val- 

 uable of the hickories, and are an important article of com- 

 merce. Many improved varieties are now known and are 

 being extensively planted. The native trees are frequently 

 budded with the more desirable varieties. Pecans are also 

 desirable shade trees in certain cities of the state, but they 

 are rather slow growers for this purpose, and do well only 

 in soils that are adapted to them. They are also difficult to 

 transplant. 



2. Hicoria Texana (Leconte) Britton. Bitter Pecan. Texan 

 Pecan. A forest tree 100 high and 3 in diameter, but gen- 

 erally much smaller, 15 to 25 tall and 8'-10' in diameter, 

 with .a narrow, rounded crown. Leaves 10'-12' long with 

 7-11, occasionally 13, lanceolate, pointed, serrate, leaflets, 

 which are curved, almost sessile, hairy at first, becoming 

 smooth, 3'-5' long, 11/2 wide. Fruit clustered I 1 // to 2' long, 

 with a thin husk. The nut is oblong-ovoid, pointed at both 



