Handbook of Trees of the JSTortiiken States and Canada. 



65 



The Pig nut Hickory in the forest attains 

 the heig.it ot 80-lUO ft. witli trunlv sometimes 

 3 or -t ft. in diameter. When in the open 

 fields it forks ratlier 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 abundance, 

 especially in the northern states, and is said 

 to be found at higher altitudes than any of 

 the other Hickories. 



The wood of the Pig-nut Hickory is heavy, a 

 cubi" foot when absolutely dry weighing 51.21 

 lbs., strong and tor.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 maturity and 

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

 lanceolate to obovate, rounded and mostly un- 

 equal at base, sharply serrate, dark green above, 

 paler beneath, the upper much larger than the 

 lowest : winter buds with 8-10 imbricated scales, 

 the outer falling early, the innermost accrescent 

 and falling when about 1 in. long. Flowers in 

 May : staminate aments .'5-7 in. long : calyx-lobes 

 usually about equal but middle one narrower ; pis- 

 tillate in 2-5-flowered 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., HI, 65. 



