Hickory

For other meanings of Hickory please see Hickory (disambiguation).

Hickory is a tree of the genus Carya (which also includes Pecan). The genus includes 17–19 species of deciduous trees with pinnately compound leaves and large nuts. Of the 17–19 species, 12–13 are native to North America (11–12 in the United States, 1 in Mexico), and 5–6 species from China and Indochina. Another Asian species, Beaked Hickory, previously listed as Carya sinensis, is now treated in a separate genus as Annamocarya sinensis.

Species and classification

North America

• Carya sect. Carya – typical hickories
  • Carya floridana Scrub Hickory
  • Carya glabra Pignut Hickory
  • Carya myristiciformis Nutmeg Hockory
  • Carya ovalis Red Hickory (treated as a synonym of C. glabra by Flora N. Amer.)
  • Carya ovata Shagbark Hickory
    • Carya ovata var. australis (syn. C. carolinae-septentrionalis) Southern Shagbark Hickory
  • Carya laciniosa Shellbark Hickory
  • Carya pallida Sand Hickory
  • Carya texana Black Hickory
  • Carya tomentosa (syn. C. alba) Mockernut Hickory

• Carya sect. Apocarya – pecans
  • Carya aquatica Water Hickory
  • Carya cordiformis Bitternut Hickory
  • Carya illinoinensis Pecan
  • Carya palmeri Mexican Hickory

Asia

• Carya sect. Sinocarya – asian hickories
  • Carya dabieshanensis Dabie Shan Hickory (may be synonymous with C. cathayensis)
  • Carya cathayensis Chinese Hickory
  • Carya hunanensis Hunan Hickory
  • Carya kweichowensis Guizhou Hickory
  • Carya poilanei Poilane's Hickory
  • Carya tonkinensis Vietnamese Hickory

• Annamocarya – beaked hickories
  • Annamocarya sinensis (syn. Carya sinensis) Beaked Hickory

Hickory flowers are anemophilous and self incompatible, so two clonal (grafted) trees cannot pollenize each other. Two or more varieties must be planted for pollination. Seedlings (grown from hickory nuts) will usually have sufficient genetic variation.

Uses

Hickory wood is extremely tough, yet flexible, and is valuable for tool handles, bows, etc. It is also highly prized for woodburning stoves, because of its high caloric content. Hickory wood is also a preferred type for smoke curing meats. The nuts of some species are palatable; while others are bitter, and only suitable for animal feed. Shagbark and Shellbark Hickories are regarded by some as the finest nut trees. A bark extract from Shagbark Hickory is also used in an edible syrup that is similar to maple syrup, with a slightly bitter, smoky taste.

External links

• Flora of North America: Carya
• Flora of China: Carya
• Flora of China: Annamocarya
• USDA Agricultural Research Service: Carya