Carya
cordiformis (Wangenheim) K. Koch
Common
names: bitternut hickory, pignut.
Synonyms: Carya cordiformis (Wangenheim) K. Koch var.
latifolia Sargent, Hicoria minima (Marshall) Britton,
Hicoria cordiformis (Wangenheim) Britton, Juglans cordiformis
Wangenheim.
Family: Juglandaceae.
Brief
description:
A medium to large-sized, deciduous tree, typically ranging from 1535
m (50115 ft.) tall when fully grown. Terminal buds are relatively
large (1019 mm long), and sulfur yellow to tan, with valvate bud
scales. Twigs are relatively slender. Bark of mature trunks is gray
or brownish, initially with a smooth texture, becoming furrowed and
ridged with age, sometimes with small exfoliating scales, but not
shaggy. Leaves are alternate, moderately large (1540 cm long), and
pinnately compound, with 79 (occasionally 5, 11, or 13) leaflets.
Leaflets are ovate to lanceolate or obovate to oblancoleate in shape,
sometimes falcate, with coarsely to finely serrate margins. The lower
leaf surface bears hairs along the larger veins, the remaining portions
with few to many hairs. Leaves produce a pungent odor when bruised
or crushed. Petioles lack hairs at the base, but become hairy closer
to the rachis, which is also hairy. Separate male and female inflorescences
occur on the same tree, the male flowers in drooping catkins, the
female flowers in short, terminal spikes. Fruits are relatively small
(23.6 cm long) nuts enclosed in a thin (23 mm) husk. The husk is
4-winged above the middle, has a short point at the end, and typically
splits into four sections about half its length.
USDA
Profile
Herbarium
sheet images:
Live
specimen images:
Individual
leaf. Branchlet
with buds Close-up
of buds Close-up
of leaf scar