Fifty Common Trees of New York 27 



18. PIGNUT HICKORY 



Pignut, Brown Hickory 



(Hicoria glabra (Miller) Sweet) 

 Pignut hickory is a fair-sized, upland species preferring dry ridges 

 and hillsides throughout the State, except in the Adirondack region 

 where it is found only at the lower elevations. The wood is strong and 

 very tough. Its uses are similar to that of shagbark hickory. 



PIGNUT HICKORY 

 Leaf and fruit, one-third natural size ; frwi§ 

 size 



one-half natural 



Bark — typically close-fitting, dark gray in color, marked with shallow 

 furrows and narrow ridges which are seldom shaggy, though sometimes 

 becoming detached at end. The variation in bark characteristics of the 

 pignut hickory is very pronounced. 



Twigs — comparatively slemler, smooth, tough, and pliable, reddish 

 brown to gray in color. 



Winter buds — small, oval, blunt-pointed, covered with reddish brown 

 scales, the outer pair of which often drop off in winter; terminal bud 

 less than y 2 inch long, much smaller than the terminal bud of the shag- 

 bark hickory. 



Leaves — alternate, compound, from 8 to 12 inches long, with from 5 to 

 7 leaflets all of which are alike or nearly alike as to size. 



Fruit — a pear-shaped to nearly round, thin-husked, buff-colored nut 

 without ridges, 1 inch long, thick shelled. Kernel — at first sweet, later 

 somewhat bitter. Husk — contrasted with shagbark hickory, all or part 

 usually clings to the nut after it has fallen to the ground. 



