Practical
Plants

Carya glabra

Sweet Pignut

a perennial woody deciduous member of the Carya genus in the family Juglandaceae.

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Taxonomy and growth

Genus
Carya
Life cycle
perennial
Foliage
deciduous
Woodiness
woody
Growth rate
slow
Height
30 m
Spread
20 m
Fertility
Self fertile, Wind
Flower type
monoecious
Pollinators
Wind

Uses

Edible uses

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Seed - raw or cooked[18][2][8]. Very variable in quality, some are sweet and pleasant whilst others are bitter and astringent[1][10][3][16][19][9]. In general it is inferior to other hickories[5][7]. The nut is rather small[K], has a very thick shell and contains very little edible matter[21][12]. The seed ripens in late autumn and, when stored in its shell in a cool place, will keep for at least 6 months[K]. Sap - tapped in spring and used as a refreshing drink. Sweet[2].

Plant part
Sap
Plant part
Seed

Material uses

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Wood - hard, strong, tough, very flexible. It weighs 51lb per cubic foot[14]. An excellent timber, it is used for tool handles, agricultural implements etc[16][18][21]. A very good fuel, burning well and giving off a lot of heat[16][18][21].

Product or use
Fuel
Product or use
Wood

Ecology and functions

Ecosystem niche
Canopy

Environment

Range
Eastern N. America - Ontario to Florida.
Habitat
Dry woods and on slopes[15][13]. The best specimens are found in deep moist well-drained soils[13].
Light
full sun
Shade tolerance
no shade
Water
moderate
Hardiness
Zone 4+
Soil textures
sandy, loamy, clay
Soil pH
acid, neutral, alkaline
Tolerates Nutritionally Poor Soil
No
Drought
intolerant

Propagation

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Seed - requires a period of cold stratification - seed given 3 months cold stratification had a 91% germination rate[4]. Best sown in a cold frame as soon as it is ripe[20]. Stored seed should be kept moist (but not wet) prior to sowing and should be sown in a cold frame as soon as possible[20]. Where possible, sow 1 or 2 seeds only in each deep pot and thin to the best seedling. If you need to transplant the seedlings, then do this as soon as they are large enough to handle, once more using deep pots to accommodate the tap root. Put the plants into their permanent positions as soon as possible, preferably in their first summer, and give some protection from the cold for at least the first winter. Seed can also be sown in situ so long as protection is given from mice etc and the seed is given some protection from cold[11] (a plastic bottle with the top and bottom removed and a wire mesh top fitted to keep the mice out is ideal)

Cultivation

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Prefers a deep moisture-retentive loam in a sunny sheltered position, requiring a good summer for best development[1][19][6][11]. Succeeds in drier soils than most members of this genus[11]. Slow growing[11]. Sometimes cultivated for its edible seed, there are some named varieties[19]. Trees take 25 - 30 years before they commence bearing seeds and peak production does not begin until they are about 80 years old[13]. Trees thrive in Britain, often bearing fruit[3]. Trees are planted for timber in Germany[17]. Plants are strongly tap-rooted and should be planted in their permanent positions as soon as possible[1][6]. Sowing in situ would be the best method so long as the seed could be protected from mice[1][11]. Trees are late coming into leaf (usually late May to June) and lose their leaves early in the autumn (usually in October)[6]. During this time they cast a heavy shade. These factors combine to make the trees eminently suitable for a mixed woodland planting with shrubs and other trees beneath them[6]. Plants in this genus are notably resistant to honey fungus[11]. Most species in this genus have quite a wide range of distribution and, in order to find trees more suited to this country, seed from the most appropriate provenances should be sought[6]. Most trees growing in Britain at present tend to only produce good seed after hot summers[6]. Trees are self-fertile but larger crops of better quality seeds are produced if cross-pollination takes place[13].

References

  1. F. Chittendon. RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956 Oxford University Press 1951-00-00

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4

  2. Turner. N. J. and Szczawinski. A. Edible Wild Fruits and Nuts of Canada. National Museum of Natural Sciences 1978-00-00

    ↩1↩2

  3. Bean. W. Trees and Shrubs Hardy in Great Britain. Vol 1 - 4 and Supplement. Murray 1981-00-00

    ↩1↩2

  4. Dirr. M. A. and Heuser. M. W. The Reference Manual of Woody Plant Propagation. Athens Ga. Varsity Press 1987-00-00 ISBN 0942375009

    ↩

  5. Rosengarten. jnr. F. The Book of Edible Nuts. Walker & Co. 1984-00-00 ISBN 0802707699

    ↩

  6. ? The Plantsman. Vol. 9. 1986 - 1987. Royal Horticultural Society 1986-00-00

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4↩5↩6

  7. McPherson. A. and S. Wild Food Plants of Indiana. Indiana University Press 1977-00-00 ISBN 0-253-28925-4

    ↩

  8. Yanovsky. E. Food Plants of the N. American Indians. Publication no. 237. U.S. Depf of Agriculture.

    ↩

  9. Facciola. S. Cornucopia - A Source Book of Edible Plants. Kampong Publications 1990-00-00 ISBN 0-9628087-0-9

    ↩

  10. Hedrick. U. P. Sturtevant's Edible Plants of the World. Dover Publications 1972-00-00 ISBN 0-486-20459-6

    ↩

  11. Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press 1992-00-00 ISBN 0-333-47494-5

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4↩5↩6

  12. Lauriault. J. Identification Guide to the Trees of Canada Fitzhenry and Whiteside, Ontario. 1989-00-00 ISBN 0889025649

    ↩

  13. Elias. T. The Complete Trees of N. America. Field Guide and Natural History. Van Nostrand Reinhold Co. 1980-00-00 ISBN 0442238622

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4

  14. Britton. N. L. Brown. A. An Illustrated Flora of the Northern United States and Canada Dover Publications. New York. 1970-00-00 ISBN 0-486-22642-5

    ↩

  15. Fernald. M. L. Gray's Manual of Botany. American Book Co. 1950-00-00

    ↩

  16. Uphof. J. C. Th. Dictionary of Economic Plants. Weinheim 1959-00-00

    ↩1↩2↩3

  17. ? Flora Europaea Cambridge University Press 1964-00-00

    ↩

  18. Usher. G. A Dictionary of Plants Used by Man. Constable 1974-00-00 ISBN 0094579202

    ↩1↩2↩3

  19. Howes. F. N. Nuts. Faber 1948-00-00

    ↩1↩2↩3

  20. Sheat. W. G. Propagation of Trees, Shrubs and Conifers. MacMillan and Co 1948-00-00

    ↩1↩2

  21. Sargent. C. S. Manual of the Trees of N. America. Dover Publications Inc. New York. 1965-00-00 ISBN 0-486-20278-X

    ↩1↩2↩3

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