Synonyms: Carya alba (L.) K. Koch ; Carya tomentosa (Lam. ex Poir.) Nutt. var. subcoriacea (Sarg.) Palmer & Steyermark ; Hicoria alba (L.) Britton ; Hicoria tomentosa (Lam. ex Poir.) Raf. ; Juglans alba L. p.p. ; Juglans tomentosa Lam. ex Poiret

Description: Tree, 15 - 30 m tall. Bark dark gray, fissured in a diamond pattern. Twigs stout, red-brown, densely hairy. Terminal bud 0.8 - 2 cm long, egg-shaped, hairy. Lateral buds are smaller. Leaves odd-pinnately compound, 15 - 30 cm long with 7 - 9 leaflets. Leaflets 4 - 19 cm long, 2 - 8 cm wide, egg-shaped to elliptical or narrow oblong, margins finely toothed, deep yellow-green above, hairy below, turning golden in fall. Foliage is aromatic when crushed. Male and female flowers on same tree (monoecious), male flowers in catkins reaching 14 cm long, female flowers in short spikes of 2 - 5. Fruit is a nut surrounded by a husk, 3 - 5 cm long and wide; husk red-brown, spherical, elliptical or widest near top, rough, splitting to middle or base; nut 1.5 - 3 cm long, tan, 4-ridged, edible but bitter.

Similar Species: Carya tomentosa can be distinguished from other hickories by its fissured bark, densely hairy and red-brown twigs, 7 - 9 leaflets with hairs below, and husks that split to the middle or base to reveal 4-ridged nuts.
Carya cordiformis, Carya glabra, Carya laciniosa, Carya ovata

Flowering: May.

Habitat and Ecology: Upland forests and disturbed areas such as railroad right-of-ways. This species has a southern distribution and is rarely seen in the Chicago Region.

Notes: Native Americans used this plant as a pain reliever for polio and colds.

Etymology: Carya comes from the Greek name for walnut. Tomentosa means with densely matted hairs, referring to the twigs and leaves.

Regional Status: Native.