Part 5

General: Bark on young trunks rather smooth, light-gray; later darker, deeply furrowed with wide, smooth, flat-topped ridges. A small to medium-sized tree. Wood used chiefly for furniture, instrument cases, and boxes. Also called white walnut.

Leaves: Compound, alternate; leaflets 15 to 23, each 3″-4″ long, small-toothed; dark yellow-green above, paler, hairy below. End leaflet absent or very small. Main leaf-stem with very fine hairs.

Twigs: Stout, orange-brown to dark brown, roughened by large leaf scars, easily broken; pith pale brown, chambered. Buds gray, downy; side buds ⅙″ long, end bud larger.

Fruit: A round nut, 1″-2″ in diameter, shell rough, covered with a thick, almost smooth, green spongy husk; oily kernel sweet. Flowers in drooping green catkins, appearing with the unfolding leaves, which is also true of butternut.

General: Bark dark brown to gray-black, with narrow ridges. A large-sized tree, found locally on rich soils mainly in the southern part of the State. Wood valuable for quality furniture, veneer, gun stocks and musical instruments.

Leaves: Compound, alternate; leaflets usually 5, each 4″ to 7″ long, the lower pair smallest, margins fine-toothed; fragrant when crushed. Larger than those of pignut hickory, with which it is sometimes confused.

Twigs: Stout, often hairy, gray-brown to reddish brown, with numerous light spots (lenticels). Buds large, with 3-4 outer dark brown, loosely fitting, nearly smooth scales; inner scales velvety; end buds ½″-¾″ long.

Fruit: Nearly round, 1″-2½″ in diameter; husk thick, splits into 4 pieces when ripe; nut white, 4-ridged, pointed at one end, usually thin-shelled; kernel sweet.

General: Bark at first smooth and gray, soon breaking into long and loosely-attached plates that gives the trunk a shaggy appearance. A medium-sized tree found on a variety of sites but most common on good soils; grows slowly. Wood used principally for tool handles. The wood of all hickories is valuable to the farmer for fuel and smoking meat.

Leaves: Compound, alternate; leaflets usually 7, each 4″-7″ long, hairy beneath, margins fine-toothed. Dried leaf-stems often cling all winter.

Twigs: Somewhat stouter than shagbark hickory, usually hairy, often angled, orange-brown, with numerous orange spots (lenticels). Buds very large, with 6-8 outer dark brown, loosely fitting keeled scales; end buds ¾″-1″ long. Prominent orange-colored leaf scars.

Fruit: Nearly round to almost egg-shaped, 1¾″-2¾″ long; husk thick, splits into 4 pieces when ripe; nut yellowish white to reddish brown, 4- to 6-ridged, pointed at both ends, usually thick-shelled; kernel sweet. Flowers appear in catkins, as do all the hickories, when leaves are mature.

General: Bark like that of shagbark hickory but often with straighter plates (less shaggy). A medium-sized tree that prefers wet soils. Wood has same uses as shagbark hickory.

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.

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.

General: Bark gray to dark gray, usually tight; shallow fissured when older. A medium-sized tree of drier locations. Wood has same uses as shagbark hickory.

Leaves: Compound, alternate; leaf-stem slender, somewhat downy; leaflets 7-11, each 3″-6″ long, narrow margins finely to coarsely toothed.

Twigs: Medium-stout, smooth, orange-green to gray-brown, with numerous pale spots (lenticels). Buds covered with 4 sulphur-yellow, gland-dotted scales, end buds ⅓″-¾″ long, flattened.

Fruit: Nearly round, ¾″-1½″ in diameter; husk thin, yellowish gland-dotted, splits about to the middle into 4 sections when ripe; nut light reddish brown or gray-brown, not ridged, thin-shelled; kernel with red-brown skin, bitter.

General: Bark gray, tight; remains rather smooth for many years; with narrow ridges when older. A medium-sized tree, usually found near streams; grows more rapidly and its wood is lighter than any of the other native hickories. Wood has same uses as shagbark hickory.

Leaves: Simple, alternate, about 3½″ long, unevenly saw-toothed; dull green above, yellow-green beneath, with some white hairs at the points where veins join; usually heart-shaped at the base.

Twigs: Green and somewhat downy when young, becoming red-brown, smooth and shiny. Strong wintergreen flavor. Buds reddish brown, sharp-pointed, shiny.

Fruit: A very small winged nut. These nuts, together with small scales, form a cone-like structure about 1½″ long. Sketch shows twig in spring with male and female flowers. All birches have similar fruiting structures.