Content

• To step
• Part 1 of 2: Hickory or not?
• Part 2 of 2: Identifying the type of hickory
• Tips

Hickory - which belongs to the same family as the walnut - is a deciduous tree that is mainly found in eastern North America, although other relatives of the hickory grow in Europe, Africa and Asia. The hickory tree produces compact, strong and impact resistant wood commonly used for tool handles, furniture and decorative architectural elements. In addition, many types of hickory are sought after in and in food preparation, and can be useful in survival situations. These guidelines will help you identify a hickory tree so you can start working on what you need it for.

To step

Part 1 of 2: Hickory or not?

1. Watch the leaves. Features in which hickory leaves differ from the leaves of other tree species are:
   • Several long, narrow leaves that grow on a stem.
   • Leaf size. Depending on the variety, a hickory leaf is between 5 cm and 20 cm long.
   • Jagged leaf edges. Some have sharply pointed serrated edges, others a more wavy leaf margin.
2. Look at the shape of the petiole. Hickory leaves grow on a clear stem, or petiole. The characteristics of hickory leaf stems include:
   • Between 5 and 17 leaves.
   • The leaves grow in opposite pairs, perpendicular to the petiole, with a single leaf at the end.
   • Noticeably larger leaves at the end of the petiole.
3. Look at the bark. Hickory trees have bark that forms vertical grooves. These grooves can be shallow or deep, far apart or close to each other, but always run vertically. In addition, in some hickory trees, the edges of the bark pieces rise as the tree ages and the bark eventually flakes off, from top to bottom.
4. Watch the nuts. Hickory nuts have a woody exterior, or nut. This note starts out green, but fades to light or dark brown as it dries with a seam along the center. The thickness of the nut varies according to the variety, but the inner pulp will always be white or reddish brown and about the size of a gum ball.
5. Study the core. The core is the center of the branches. All hickory trees have a massive, reddish-brown, 5-sided core. Look at the cutting edge of the branch where you cut it from the tree. If you see a 5-edged or star-shaped reddish-brown core, then the branch meets two of the characteristics of a hickory tree. To see if the core is solid, cut a small, living branch and cut it in half lengthwise. If the branch is solid, with no core that looks spongy or honeycomb, then the core is solid.

Part 2 of 2: Identifying the type of hickory

1. Identify a Southern shagbark hickory (Carya caronlinae septentrionalis). The southern shagbark grows in calcareous soil. Its leaves are serrated in sharp points and grow per 5 on a petiole. Shagbark branches are thick and brown, and the bark is scaly and raised at the edges, giving it a somewhat ragged appearance. The shagbark fruits, which grow to between 3 cm and 5 cm in length, are oval and round, with a thick, dark exterior. The rolling tobacco nut tastes sweet.
2. Identify a Bitternut hickory (Carya cordiformis). This species grows in moist forests, also called "steam banks". The leaves, 9 per petiole, are broad and smooth along the edges. The bitternut hickory nut is between 2cm and 4cm long, and is in a thin, dark shell. The pulp tastes bitter, as the name of the tree suggests. Bitternut branches are slender and green, and have striking yellow buds. The bark of a bitternut is light gray-brown and not grooved deep enough to flake.
3. Identify a Pignut hickory (Carya glabra). Pignut hickory trees grow on wide ledges. Their leaves consist of 5 sharply pointed, dark green, glossy leaflets with serrated edges on a short petiole. The thin shell of the pignut is light brown and the round fruit, which is about 2.5 cm long and 2 cm wide, has the same light brown color. Twigs are slender and dark purple to light green. The bark of a pignut has deep grooves and is scaly, but does not flake at the edges.
4. Identify a Kingnut (shellbark) hickory (Carya laciniosa). The shellbark grows in wet, lowland forests. Its leaves are waxy and medium green, and are at least 9 on a petiole. The fruits, which are between 4.5 cm and 6.5 cm long and 3.8 cm wide, make the kingnut the hickory species with the largest fruits, which are enclosed by a thick, dark brown shell. The kingnut produces a sweet note. The branches are thick with round buds. The bark of the kingnut forms long, narrow vertical scales, which peel off from above and below.
5. Identify a Red hickory (Carya ovalis). The red hickory grows on slopes and in forest ridges. Its leaves are green and red, slender and tapering, and grow 5 or more together on a petiole. The edges of the leaves of the red hickory are smooth-toothed, in contrast to the sharp-toothed of the pignut and southern shagbark. Red hickory nuts are 2.5 cm to 3 cm long and 2 cm wide, round, light brown, have a thin skin and a sweet taste. The shell is thin and dark brown. Red hickory bark is rough and has deep grooves in narrow vertical strips. However, the bark does not scale or flake.
6. Identify a Shagbark hickory (Carya ovata). Shagbark hickory trees grow in a variety of habitats, although they grow best in drained areas. The leaflets are light green, short and rounded, with a pointed end. They grow with 5 or 7 on a petiole. The nuts of a shagbark hickory are 3 cm to 5 cm long, light brown, have a thin skin and a sweet taste, and are contained in a thick, brown-black fruit. As the name implies, the shagbark is characterized by its thick, scaly bark, which gives the trunk a rough appearance.
7. Identify a Sand hickory (Carya palida). The sand hickory has matte, light green, narrow, pointed leaves with a smooth edge. The nuts are the smallest of all hickory varieties, averaging only 13mm to 37mm long, with a thin fruit and skin and a light colored note. They are round and covered with fine hairs. The nut of a sand hickory tastes sweet. Sand hickory bark is relatively smooth and forms a compact network of shallow grooves.
8. Identify a Mockernut hickory (Carya tomentosa). Mockernut hickory trees grow in arid regions on slopes and tops. The leaflets are waxy, medium green, broad and rounded, growing 7 or more on a petiole. The edges of the mockernut's leaves are slightly serrated, with smooth-edged teeth. The nut of the mockernut is relatively small, at only 3.8 cm to 5 cm long, and is contained within a thick, dark brown fruit. Mockernut bark is characterized by deep, vertical grooves that are close together. The bark may also roll up at the edges and peel off when the mockernut is fully grown

Tips

• Try not to crack the nuts with your teeth. Use a small boulder or a vise for this.
• Once you identify the tree as hickory, don't be afraid to taste the nuts. No hickory nut is poisonous, although eating large amounts of nuts that taste bitter is not recommended.