MOCKERNUT HICKORY
(Carya tomentosa)
Leaves: Compound, alternate; leaf-stems with fine hairs; [leaflets] 7 to 9, each 4″-8″ long, margins finely to coarsely toothed; golden glandular dots beneath; very fragrant when crushed.
Twigs: Stout, hairy, reddish brown to brownish gray, with numerous pale spots ([lenticels]). Buds large, egg-shaped, with 3-5 outer yellowish brown, densely hairy scales; end buds ½″-¾″ long. [Leaf scars] distinctly 3-lobed.
Fruit: Nearly round to egg-shaped, 1½″-2″ long; husk thick, splits into 4 pieces when ripe; nut reddish brown, slightly ridged, thick-shelled; kernel sweet.
General: Bark gray to dark gray, tight; irregularly shallow-fissured when older. A medium-sized tree found mostly in the southern part of the State. Wood has same uses as [shagbark hickory].
PIGNUT HICKORY
(Carya glabra)
Leaves: Compound, alternate; [leaflets] usually 5, each 3″-6″ long; margins fine-toothed. Entire leaf smooth. Averages smaller than [shagbark hickory].
Twigs: Medium-stout, not hairy, reddish brown, with numerous pale spots ([lenticels]). Buds egg-shaped and pointed, smallest of the native hickories, with more than 6 scales; outer scales often fall off during the winter, end buds ¼″-½″ long.
Fruit: Usually pear-shaped, 1″-2½″ long; husk thin, remains closed or splits partly when ripe; nut brownish white, not ridged, usually thick-shelled; kernel sweet but with bitter after-taste.