Carya glabra
Pignut Hickory

Family: Juglandaceae

Form: Medium to large deciduous tree, 60-80 ft. tall by 20-30 ft. wide, varying with location and soil type

Leaves: Alternate, 8 - 12" long, pinnately compound with 5 - 7 leaflets. Leaflets are glabrous, serrate, elliptic with acuminate apices and slightly oblique bases and measure 2 - 5" long by ½ - 2" wide. Prominent yellow midribs

Stem/Bark: Stems and terminal buds are smaller than most other hickories. Young bark is smooth and gray, older bark is highly ridged and furrowed

Flower: Monoecious; Male flowers are 2-3" long, pale green, drooping catkins with heavy pollen that is wind dispersed to the female flowers, which are very short and found in terminal clusters; both appear in spring

Fruit: An oval shaped, slightly flattened nut about 1" long is encased in a dark brown, smooth husk. Splits open slightly when ripe in the fall

Comments: 6 species of Cayra occur naturally in Florida. C. glabra is found on high and dry sites in central and north Florida, and throughout the eastern U.S.