Trees live up to 150 years. Fruit: Encased in a husk composed of four ridges that come to a point, the bitter nut reaches up to 11/2 inches in diameter. Greenish flowers open before leaves appear.

The pignut hickory is not as popular, but the local species does produce fairly tasty fruit. The bitternut hickory has one of the less appealing nuts -- as its name implies. The pecan ...