306 



WEEDS AND USEFUL PLANTS. 



slightly serrate, rougb-downy below ; aments tomentose ; fruit globular 

 or ovoid ; nut rather large, somewhat 6-angled, pale brown and thick- 

 shelled. 



Tomentose Carya. White-heart Hickory. Mocker-nut. 



(S'tem 60-80 feet or more in height, — the bark with the fibres interlocked and not ex- 

 foliating. Leaflets generally in 3 pairs with a terminal odd one, 3 or 4 - 8 inches long (tlie 

 two lower pairs considerably smaller than the others), smoothish above, clcthca with 

 a roughish stellate pubescence beneath, and sprinkled with minute dark-purple pai'- 

 ticles among the pubescence. ATnents 4-6 or 7 inches long, filiform, pubescent. 1 idillate 

 fiowers mostly in pairs, sessile on a short thick bracteate common peduncle. Fruit ovo,d 

 or oblong-oval, large (often 2 inches or more in length, and in diameter) ; ejmajp 

 thick and coriaceous, opening by 4 valves more than half way to the base ; nut some- 

 what 6-angled near the apex,— the sMi very thick and bony, — the kernel rather small, 

 and, though esculent, much inferior to the preceding. 



Upland forests : New England to Virginia. Fl. May. Fr. October. 



Ohs. This species, also, appears to present several varieties, — some of 

 them producing remarkably large fruit. All the Hickories are noted 

 for affording good fuel ; but the wood of this one (which is white to 

 the heart — while the others are more or less red, within,) is considered 

 the best of all, for that purpose. It is replete, in early summer, with a 

 sweet syrup-like sap, — and when cut, at that season, is much preyed 

 upon by worms. The proper time for cutting it is the month of 

 August. 



4. C. gla'bra, Torr. Leaflets 5-7, ovate-lanceolate, serrate, nearly 

 smooth ; fruit pear-shaped or roundish, thin ; nut smooth and even, thin- 

 nish-shelled but hard. 



Smooth Carya. Pig-nut Hickory. Broom Hickory. 



stem 40-60 or 70 feet high, with a close bark, and numerous tough branches. Leaflets 

 usually in 3 pairs (not unfrequently in 2 - 4 pairs,) with a terminal odd one, 2 or 3 - 5 or 6 

 inches long, generally smooth on both sides — sometimes a little pubescent beneath — 

 sprinkled with minute purple particles. ^me7ifa tern ate ly branched or in pairs 2-4 or 5 

 inches long, filiform, smoothish. Pistillate fiowers terminal, solitary, or 2 or 3 sessile and 

 rather distant on a common peduncle. Fruit rather small, subglobose, oblong, or obo- 

 void, — the obovoid variety often a little compressed and refuse, or obcordate ; epicarp 

 thin and coriaceous, opening partially (at summit) by 4 valves ; nut smooth and even, — 

 the shell often hard, but sometimes thin and frangible ; kernel often astringent and 

 bitter,— sometimes esculent, but of inferior quality. 



Moist woodlands and low grounds : New England to Carolina. Fl. May. Fr. October. 



Ohs The young saplings of this species were much used, formerly, for 

 making splint brooms ; and the tough sprouts, or seedling plants, are 

 often employed as ligatures, in rural economy, under the name of hick- 

 ory withes. The wood of the older trees is used by wheelrights for 

 making axles of carts and wagons : and, like that of all the species, is 

 much esteemed for fuel. The small fruited Hickory, C. microcar'pa, 

 Nutt., has similar foliage but is distinguished by its very small fruit, 

 which is only | of an inch in diameter. The Bitter-nut, C. ailia'ra,^^"^^. 



