LL's Identification Games (Number 1) - (SOLVED???: pignut hickory)

[Dodgy Loner]

All of the "true hickories"  - mockernut, pignut, shagback, and shellbark - are considered to have wood that is slightly better than the "pecan hickories" - pecan, bitternut hickory, and water hickory.  I use them interchangeably, though, because they are all very hard and very strong.

[WDH]

Of the "true hickories" shagbark is probably the most desired for lumber products, but it is not the most common.  Pignut and mockernut are more prevalent.  However, in the right forest conditions, pignut and mockernut produce some high quality, clear sawlogs.

It seems that hickory lumber has become more popular, especially for cabinets.

[SwampDonkey]

I'd be careful of pubescence to, when it comes to sun and shade leaves. Depending on the location in the crown or canopy there may or may not be those little hairs. I know black cherry doesn't have hairs all the time on every leaf sample. ;)


But I suspect those hairs on some hickory species are a throw back to the oily hairs on butternut and walnut.

[WDH]

The rachis is quite hirsute in mockernut and many of the other hickories .