Hardwood Flooring February March 2018

SPECIES SPECS H i c ko r y/ Pe ca n RESOURCES

The Carya genus (hickory) is divided into two main groupings:

True Hickories:

Pecan Hickories:

Pignut Hickory (Carya glabra) Shellbark Hickory (Carya laciniosa) Shagbark Hickory (Carya ovata) Mockernut Hickory (Carya tomentosa)

Water Hickory (Carya aquatica) Bitternut Hickory (Carya cordiformis) Pecan (Carya illinoinensis) Nutmeg Hickory (Carya myristiciformis)

Found in the Northern Appalachian and Southern regions of the Eastern U.S. Pecan hickory is used for tool handles and flooring. The lower grades are used for pallets. Many higher grade logs are sliced to provide veneer for furniture and decorative paneling. True hickory is for tool handles that require high shock resistance. It is also used for ladder rungs, athletic goods, agricultural implements, dowels, gymnasium apparatuses, poles, and furniture. Lower grade hickory is not suitable for the special uses of high-quality hickory because of knottiness or other growth features and low density. However, the lower grade is useful for pallets and similar items. Hickory sawdust, chips, and some solid wood are used to flavor meat by smoking.

Color:

Grain:

• Pecan heartwood is reddish brown with dark brown stripes; sapwood is white or creamy white with pinkish tones. • True hickory heartwood is tan or reddish; sapwood is white to cream, with fine brown lines.

• Pecan hickory is open, occasionally wavy or irregular. • True hickory is closed, with moderate definition; somewhat rough-textured.

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