Author Topic: I cannot figure out this hickory (Read 2285 times)

Lanier_Lurker · « **on:** October 19, 2007, 11:30:56 pm »

With Lake Lanier in the pitiful condition it is in this is a wonderful time to walk around the edge of the exposed lake bed, look at trees and stuff, and generally goof off.

I came upon a huge pile of hickory nuts that had dropped off a rather large hickory tree with a crown that veered out over the exposed lake bed. The nuts were fairly small, and they were escaping their husks with little problem since I was finding husk-free nuts everywhere. Their small size made me think they were pignut, but the fairly thick and easily escapable husk made me think mockernut. I know I may have to go back and get some pictures of the bark and leaves, but I'll go ahead and start this identification thread anyway. Here is a picture of the nuts.

beenthere · « **Reply #1 on:** October 20, 2007, 01:21:20 am »

Looks the size of our shagbark hickory. Pic of the bark?

Brian Beauchamp · « **Reply #2 on:** October 20, 2007, 02:31:19 pm »

I agree...either shagbark or shellbark hickory.

SwampDonkey · « **Reply #3 on:** October 20, 2007, 03:27:58 pm »

red hickory Carya ovalis

Brian Beauchamp · « **Reply #4 on:** October 20, 2007, 04:04:34 pm »

...didn't even notice that quarter in the pic,

...shows how observant I am sometimes...way too small for either I had mentioned before.

WDH · « **Reply #5 on:** October 20, 2007, 07:34:13 pm »

It is not pignut. I am betting it is mockernut. However, it could be southern shagbark hickory, Carya ovata var. australis. However, the shaggy bark would be distinctive and diagnostic, and I bet you would have noticed that.

SwampDonkey · « **Reply #6 on:** October 20, 2007, 07:47:46 pm »

Looks oval to me, ovalis

WDH · « **Reply #7 on:** October 20, 2007, 07:56:12 pm »

The husk looks a little too thick I think, SD. The dehiscence looks to be too good for ovalis.

SwampDonkey · « **Reply #8 on:** October 20, 2007, 08:52:15 pm »

LeeB · « **Reply #9 on:** October 20, 2007, 09:48:29 pm »

When you tree smart folks get it figured out somebody please post som pics so can positively identify at least one of the many different hickories on my place.

WDH · « **Reply #10 on:** October 20, 2007, 10:10:09 pm »

LeeB,

Post us some pics.

Dave Shepard · « **Reply #11 on:** October 20, 2007, 10:12:14 pm »

Looks like our shagbark up here.

Dave

Lanier_Lurker · « **Reply #12 on:** October 20, 2007, 11:13:20 pm »

Would ovalis have husk thickness and dehiscence characteristics that are similar to glabra? If so then that would seem to rule out ovalis (although I would love to find one around here).

I glanced at the tree, and the bark is definitely not that of a shagbark.

I'll wander back down there and try to get some pictures of the tree.

WDH · « **Reply #13 on:** October 20, 2007, 11:20:58 pm »

Today, many dendrologists consider red hickory (Carya ovalis) to be a variety of pignut (Carya glabra). Some manuals refer to red hickory as Carya glabra var. ovalis. The husk thickness and dehiscence characteristics of the two are more similar than different since they are essentially the same species. The bark of pignut is very tight and the bark of red hickory is more scaly, but nothing like the big loose scales of shagbark or shellbark. Red hickory is, however, decidedly scaly, but the scales are much smaller than shagbark.

SwampDonkey · « **Reply #14 on:** October 21, 2007, 06:14:31 am »

Ditto to what WDH said, there are also a couple other latin names floating around.

C ovalis var. ordata

C leiodermis

C pallida

The last two are distinct from the first, but pignuts as well.

LeeB · « **Reply #15 on:** October 21, 2007, 10:03:48 am »

WDH, ok teacher, give me some homework.

I was thinking as I opened this thread about my post last night and that I should be the one taking the pictures. i don't know how much good they will be right now as the leaves have started to turn and are falling off. We basicly had no nuts this year due to a late freeze. I,ll have to wait till next year to match nuts to tree.

WDH · « **Reply #16 on:** October 21, 2007, 11:33:05 am »

Bark pics are very good in IDing hickory. Also, the number of leaflets and if the leaf stem is hairy or smooth. If you take pics, look for the number of leaflets and the leaf stem (rachis) condition. Nuts are a big plus, but not critical. The stoutness of the branches near the tip is another important feature.

Lanier_Lurker · « **Reply #17 on:** October 21, 2007, 11:18:37 pm »

Ok, I'll start with some bark pictures.

The leaf pictures I was able to get are maddeningly inconclusive. There are 5 and 7 leaflet leaves - and I cannot tell which occurs more frequently.

Also, I think I may need better bark pictures. Now that I have figured out some of the features on my camera I feel like I can get better pictures. But, I'll give these a try. WDH may spot something that is conclusive.

WDH · « **Reply #18 on:** October 21, 2007, 11:44:30 pm »

That bark is mighty tight, mighty mockernutish

. Doesn't look much like red hickory, Carya ovalis or Carya glabra var. ovalis whatever flavor you like.

limbrat · « **Reply #19 on:** October 21, 2007, 11:47:42 pm »

So the nuts are small but there is a lot of them. Could the tree have been stressed and decided to put out as much seed as could?

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Author Topic: I cannot figure out this hickory (Read 2285 times)