54 



Common Trees 



PIGNUT HICKORY 



Carya glabra, (Miller) Spach 



The Pignut Hickory is an important forest tree. It 

 occurs on real forest soil on the foothills and mountain 

 slopes, and produces valuable wood. 



The leaves are alternate, compound, 8 to 12 inches long 

 with 5 to 7 leaflets. Leaflets are long, narrow, sharp-pointed, 

 smooth, glossy. They are 

 slightly larger than those 

 of the Bitternut Hickory. 



The flowers are similar 

 to those of the other hick- 

 ories. 



The fruit is pear-shaped 

 to spherical, with neck-like 

 projection at base. The 

 husk is thin, often does 

 not split or may split to 

 middle. The kernel is 

 usually small and bitter, 

 and not edible. 



The bark is close-fit- 

 ting, dark gray, marked 

 with shallow furrows, 

 does not shag off. The 

 twigs are smooth, tough, 

 reddish-brown, marked with pale dots, 

 blunt-pointed, reddish-brown. 



The wood is similar to that of other hickories, but some- 

 what superior to Bitternut Hickory. 



The Pignut Hickory is found from Maine to Minnesota, 

 south to Florida and Texas. It occurs in most sections 

 of New York except in the Adirondack region, where it is 

 found only at lower elevations. It is most common on dry 

 ridges and > hillsides. It is a medium-sized tree, frequently 

 reaching a height of 60 feet and diameter of 2 feet. 



Closely related to the Pignut is the Mockernut Hickory — 

 Carya alba, (Linnaeus) K. Koch. It is also called Big Bud 

 and White-heart Hickory, and can be distinguished by its 

 close-fitting, evidently furrowed bark that does not shag off, 

 its stout hairy twigs, its hairy leaves with 7 to 9 large leaflets, 

 its large round thick-shelled nut with thick husk and small 

 kernel. The buds are larger than those of any other hickory. 

 While the fruit is larger, its kernel is small and not edible. 

 It is common in the rich agricultural valleys of New York. 



PIGNUT HICKORY 

 One-fourth natural size. 



The buds are oval, 



