Back to St. Mary's Website      Tree Home Page 
 Resources     Acknowledgments

bitternut hickory
Name
: Bitternut Hickory    
Common: Bitternut Hickory (Pignut)
Scientific: Carya Cordiformis

 
Leaf:      1. Type: The leaves are alternate
              2.Vein: Pinnate
              3.Margin: Lobed
              4.Base: lanced-shape
               Venation: Pinnate
                Arrangement: compound opposite

 Flower: NO                                                     
                 Description: The bitternut Hickory doesn’t flower.

Fruit: Yes
            Description: Nut is grooved, bitter tasting. Squirrels tend to pass it up.
   

Twig: The twigs on the Bitternut Hickory and old  Bitternut Hickory’s have bright yellow valvate buds

 

Bark: The bark is smooth on both the young and the adult trees. The bark is a b brownish gray type of color.

bark of bitternut hickory

 Form: The tree is a medium to large tree. It is usually 50-115 feet tall.


bitternut hickory leaf Discussion

 Uses: The oil made from the nut can be used to illuminate oil lamps. It is used for tool handles, and the wood also burns well producing good heat. People also use the wood for tennis racket handles.

Origin (location): Eastern north America- Maine to Quebec and south to Florida

Distribution: Borders of swamps, and near rivers. Can live in many types of soils.

Copyright 2005-2006: webmaster@stmarysschool.net

 
References:

 http://www.forestry.auburn.edu/samuelson/dendrology/juglandaceae_pg/bitternut_hickory.htm

http://www.ibiblio.org/pic/NCTrees/bitternuthickory.htm

 http://www.ibiblio.org/pic/Tree_pages/Carya_cordiformis.htm

http://enature.com/fieldguides/detail.asp?source=&parkid=&searchText=&allSpecies=&shapeID=0&lshapeID=27&curAbbr=&lastView=default&lastGroup=10&lastRegion=&lastFilter=4&lastShapeName=&trackType=&curRegionID=&size=&habitat=&fruit=&color=&sortBy=family&curFamilyID=&regionSelect=All+regions&regionZIP=&curGroupID=10&lgfromWhere=&curPageNum=78

http://www.ibiblio.org/pfaf/cgi-bin/arr_html?Carya+cordiformis&CAN=COMIND

Top of page