American hickory and pecan are different species of a very diverse group, but in the round (log) they are virtually indistinguishable from each other and therefore often processed by saw mills and sold mixed together.
Carya spp
Often referred to as pecan in the South.
The hickories are an important group and the trees grow naturally throughout the Eastern U.S., from north to south. They are split into two groups; the more important true hickories and hickories producing pecan nuts, the latter being an important fruit-bearing tree. Trees vary in size enormously.
FIA data shows U.S. hickory growing stock is 742.3 million m3, 4.7% of total U.S. hardwood growing stock. American hickory is growing 14.6 million m3 per year while the harvest is 5.9 million m3 per year. The net volume (after harvest) is increasing 8.6 million m3 each year. U.S. hickory growth exceeds harvest in all significant producing states with the exception of Louisiana.