C. pallida (Ashe) Engl. & Graebn. Sand hickory. Sand hickory is distributed from Virginia west to Tennessee, south into Louisiana where it is limited to 3 parishes and east into northwestern Florida. Isolated populations occur as far north as Delaware and New Jersey and west into southern Indiana and Illinois (distribution map). The species is found on dry, upland sandy sites, often with pine. Sand hickory is easily identified by the dense tufts of hairs on the rachises and midribs and silvery scales on the lower leaf surfaces. Lower leaf surfaces lack the dense tomentum found on C. tomentosa. Twigs are slender, rather than stout as in C. tomentosa, and terminal buds are much smaller, with persistent reddish brown bud scales. Bark of mature trees is tight. Nuts are thick shelled. LJ Grauke , Research Horticulturist & CuratorUSDA-ARS Pecan Genetics10200 FM 50Somerville, TX 77879Return to Species IndexReturn to Species KeyGo to Literature CitedReturn to Main Index