While at Hillsborough River State Park a few weeks ago I learned about a new-to-me North American native, the Pignut Hickory (Carya glabra).

The rather unflattering common name was bestowed upon it by early settlers. The bitter tasting fruit is so unpalatable that it was relegated to pig slop.

Despite that, the trees were of high value since the wood is not only hard and strong but also elastic. The wood proved extremely durable for wagon wheels and agricultural tools, very important in early America. These days, the wood is prized by elite athletes around the world for sporting goods, such as skis.