Any species of the genus Carya, formerly known botanically as Hicoria. Hickories are mostly tall forest trees characterized by strong, terminal, scaly winter buds, pinnately compound leaves , solid pith (not chambered), and fruit with an outer husk or exocarp which splits more or less readily into four parts, revealing a nut with a hard shell or endocarp. The shagbark hickory (C. ouata) is found in the eastern half of the United States and adjacent Canada. It is the most important species because of the commercial value of its nuts, the hickory nuts of commerce, and of its wood. The pecan (C. illinoensis) is also a valuable species because of its commercially popular, thin-shelled, sweet nuts. Other species are the mockernut, shellbark, and pignut hickories. The remarkably tough and strong wood of all species makes it the world's best wood for tool handles. It is also used for parts of furniture, flooring, boxes, and crates, and for smoking meats. |
