The WOOD is hard, strong, and heavy; reddish-brown in color, and often called red hickory. It has the same uses as the other hickories but is said to be inferior.
WATER HICKORY
Carya aquatica (Michx. f.) Nutt.
This tree, as its name indicates, grows in bottomlands and rich, wet woods. It is found throughout the eastern portion of the state. It is not a large hickory, seldom attaining a height of 100 feet or a diameter of 2 feet. It is slender, with upright branches forming a narrow head. It is easily distinguished from other hickories by its reddish-brown winter buds which are covered with yellow glands that fall off easily.
WATER HICKORY ([Fruit] and twig, two-thirds natural size; leaf, one-fourth natural size)
The light brown [BARK] separates freely into long, loose, thick, plate-like [scales].
LEAVES are [alternate], [compound], 9 to 15 inches long, with 7 to 13 slender [leaflets]. The FLOWERS are like those of other hickories. The [FRUIT], often borne in clusters of 3 or 4, is a rather [oblong] [nut], conspicuously four-angled, with a thin, red-brown hull that splits tardily. The nut itself is nearly as broad as long, four-angled and ridged, with a thin shell and bitter kernel.
The WOOD is heavy, strong, close grained, brown, and rather brittle. Probably used only for fuel.
SHAGBARK HICKORY
Carya ovata (Mill.) K. Koch
Shagbark hickory is found from eastern Texas to Florida and north to the St. Lawrence River and Minnesota. It is a large tree of commercial importance reaching 100 feet in height and 2 to 3 feet in diameter. It thrives best on rich, damp soil.