Hickories
Carya palmeri
C. palmeri Manning. Mexican
Hickory
Carya palmeri is endemic to Mexico and is found in the mountains
of Nuevo Leon, Tamaulipas and Vera Cruz (Manning, 1962; Narave­Flores,
1983). It also occurs in San Luis Potosi ("ca. 2 mi. west
of Xilitla", Stone 1133, 2 June 1962, Univ. of Texas herbarium)
(distribution map). The tree grows on steep slopes, often
in association with C. myristiciformis.
Mexican hickory is superficially similar to C. cordiformis, having
bright yellow buds, smooth, tight, whitish bark on mature trees, and thin shelled (1mm) nuts with bitter, convoluted kernels. It differs from bitternut
by having wings on the sutures
to the base of the nut
(as in C. myristiciformis), and lacks the prominent apex on the
nut. Mexican hickory also resembles C. myristiciformis, due to
its scale-covered leaves and fruit husks. It is distinguished
by those features mentioned above which are similar to bitternut.
No cultivars or hybrids of this species have been reported.
LJ Grauke
, Research Horticulturist
& Curator
USDA-ARS Pecan Genetics
10200 FM 50
Somerville, TX 77879
tele: 979-272-1402
fax: 979-272-1401
e-mail: ljg@tamu.edu
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