In the identification of lumber, however, all hickories are identified as such by a National Hardwood Lumber Association inspector and no separation is made. These are southern species for the most part and are not of commercial importance in the Appalachian area. The shagbark hickory grows throughout the eastern United States except for the South Atlantic and Gulf Coastal Plains. The pignut covers a similar area but does not reach so far south. Hickory has not been cut in the forest of the Appalachian region in years past, so today it is abundant.
Leaves occur alternately on stem.
On shagbark, the bark occurs in smooth plates which curl at the ends and break away from the trunk, giving a shaggy appearance. On the pignut the bark is thin and tight with shallow, vertical fissures, sometimes slightly scaly. Very hard, very heavy, very strong. It weighs about 4.4 lbs. The fine grain and uniform texture of Appalachian Hickory makes it easier to work than hickory from outside the mountains.