pignut hickory Carya glabra Kingdom: Plantae FEATURES Division: Magnoliophyta The deciduous pignut hickory tree may grow to a Class: Magnoliopsida height of 75 feet and a trunk diameter of two feet. Order: Juglandales Its bark is light gray to black and at maturity is furrowed and ridged. The pinnately compound Family: Juglandaceae leaves are arranged alternately along the stem. ILLINOIS STATUS Leaves have five, sometimes seven, leaflets. The lance‐shaped leaflet is toothed along the edges, common, native green and smooth on the upper surface and green and smooth or hairy along the veins on the lower surface. Each leaflet may grow to five inches long and two inches wide, the upper leaflets larger than the lower ones. Male and female flowers are separate but located on the same tree. The tiny flower lacks petals. Male (staminate) flowers are arranged in catkins, while the female (pistillate) flowers are in groups of one to three. The fruit is a spherical to pear‐shaped nut that is about one inch long and not quite that wide. The nut has a very hard shell. The seed is sweet to the taste.

BEHAVIORS The pignut hickory may be found at scattered locations throughout Illinois. This tree grows on wooded slopes and ridges. The pignut hickory tree in summer flowers in April and May after the leaves have begun to expand. Its heavy, hard wood is used for fuel, for ILLINOIS RANGE fence posts and for making tool handles.

© Illinois Department of Natural Resources. 2021. Biodiversity of Illinois. Unless otherwise noted, photos and images © Illinois Department of Natural Resources. tree in fall © Guy Sternberg bark

Aquatic Habitats none

Woodland Habitats upland deciduous forests

Prairie and Edge Habitats none

leaflet

© Illinois Department of Natural Resources. 2021. Biodiversity of Illinois. Unless otherwise noted, photos and images © Illinois Department of Natural Resources.