Missouri Department of Conservation
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Pignut Hickory

Carya glabra
Family: 
Juglandaceae (walnuts)
Description: 

A medium-sized tree with a rather narrow crown, 2-4 times longer than broad.

Leaves alternate, feather-compound, 8-12 inches long, with 5 (rarely 7) leaflets. Leaflets lance-shaped, narrow at base or near middle; margin toothed; tip tapered to a point. Upper surface yellow-green, smooth; under surface paler and smooth or hairy along veins. Bright yellow in fall.

Bark gray, thin, tight, rough from numerous shallow, criss-crossing cracks forming close, flattened scales.

Twigs rather slender, reddish-brown, smooth; pores pale.

Flowers April-May, male and female flowers separate on same tree; male catkins 3-branched, yellowish-green; female flowers few.

Fruits September-October, variable, usually pear- or egg-shaped, often with a necklike base; about 1¼ inches long; husk dark brown, thin, splitting late along 2-4 lines or not at all. Nut pear-shaped with a short beak.

Size: 
Height: to 80 feet.
Habitat and conservation: 
Dry upland woods, usually in acid souls derived from chert, sandstone or igneous rock, especially in the Ozarks; also in sandy or gravelly soils of dry upland wooded ridges in southeastern Missouri’s Crowley Ridge. A slow to moderately fast-growing tree, depending on soils. Trees are usually 25-30 years old before they begin producing nuts; it takes twice that time to begin full production.
Distribution in Missouri: 
Mostly in the eastern Ozarks but can be found scattered throughout southern Missouri and in a few counties just north of the Missouri River.
Human connections: 
The tough, rugged wood has been used for fuel and for tools that must withstand violent blows and friction, such as axe handles and wagon wheel hubs. Settlers used the bitter nuts to feed pigs (hence the name) and made brooms from the shredded wood.
Ecosystem connections: 
Squirrels, mice, deer and more eat the nuts. Squirrels also eat the buds. Like other hickories, the leaves are eaten by caterpillars of several large, showy moths, including the luna moth, several underwings and the giant regal moth.

Other Content You May Like

  • Bitternut Hickory

    Of the several hickories in Missouri, bitternut hickory is the only one with long, bright yellow buds. Its common name refers to the bitter taste of the nut—but the flavor doesn't put off squirrels, mice and deer!

  • Black Hickory

    This tree is also called the Ozark pignut hickory. Its nut, like that of the pignut hickory (Carya glabra), has a tough husk that is doggone hard to crack. Because rural Ozarkers noticed their rooting hogs had no trouble extracting the sweet kernels, both species came to be called "pignut hickories."

  • Mockernut Hickory

    Missouri is rich with hickory trees. This hickory stands out from the rest for its hard wood, thick-shelled fruit enclosing relatively small kernels, large and light-colored terminal buds and tight, never shaggy, bark.

  • Shagbark Hickory

    Many Missouri trees are quite useful, and shagbark hickory is a great example. Its wood makes excellent, slow-burning charcoal, its nuts are edible and its wood is used for many implements. Wildlife from moths to squirrels to bats appreciate shagbarks, too!

  • Pecan

    One of Missouri’s favorite nut trees is the pecan, which is a type of hickory—and hickories are in the walnut family! Originally pecan had a fairly limited, southern distribution, but today it is found in and out of cultivation nearly statewide, owing to the popularity of the nuts.

  • Shellbark Hickory (Big Shagbark Hickory)

    This is the largest of the true hickories and has the best-tasting hickory nuts in Missouri. Compared to shagbark hickory, it has larger leaves and more leaflets, plus large nuts and orange twigs.

  • Water Hickory (Bitter Pecan)

    Water hickory grows on ground that is often under water during part of the year. The bitter nuts are consumed by ducks and other wildlife.

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