JUGLANDACEAE 
Mocker Nut Hickory 
Carya alba (L.) K. Koch [Hicoria alba (L.) Britt.] 
[Carya tomentosa. Nutt.] 
HABIT.—A tree 50-70 feet high, with a trunk diameter 
of 1-2%4 feet; forming a wide crown of strong, upright branches 
and stout branchlets. 
LEAVES.—Alternate, compound, 8-12 inches long. Leaflets 
usually 5-7, sometimes 9, the upper 5-8 inches long, 3-4 inches 
broad; sessile, except the terminal; oblong- to obovate-lanceo- 
late; minutely or sometimes coarsely serrate; thick and firm; 
lustrous, dark yellow-green above, paler and more or less 
pubescent beneath. Petioles pubescent. Foliage fragrant when 
crushed. 
FLOWERS.—May, after the leaves; monoecious; the stam- 
inate in pendulous, ternate catkins 4-5 inches long, slender, 
green, hairy; scales 3-lobed, hairy; stamens 4-5, with red anthers; 
the pistillate in crowded, 2-5-flowered, tomentose spikes; calyx 
toothed, hairy; corolla o; stigmas 2, hairy. 
FRUIT.— October; globose to globose-oblong, 114-2 inches 
long, with thick husk splitting nearly to the base; nut 4-ridged, 
red-brown, with very thick, hard shell and small, sweet kernel. 
WINTER-BUDS.—Terminal bud %4-34 inch long, broadly 
ovoid, red-brown, pilose; outermost scales fall in early autumn. 
BARK.—Twigs at first brown-tomentose, becoming smooth 
and grayish; on the trunk thick, hard, grayish, slightly ridged 
by shallow, irregular’ fissures, becoming rugged on very old 
trunks. 
WOOD.—Very heavy, hard, strong, tough, close-grained, 
elastic, dark brown, with thick, whitish sapwood. 
‘DDISTRIBUTION.—Southern Peninsula as far north as 
Grand Rapids and Flint. Infrequent. 
HABITAT.—Prefers rich, well-drained soil, but grows well 
in yarious situations, if they are not too wet. 
NOTES.—Hardy throughout its range. Difficult to trans- 
plani. 
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