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Carya alba

(Mockernut Hickory)

Overview

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Interesting Facts

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Common Names

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Common Names in English:

Mockernut Hickory

Description

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Family Juglandaceae

Trees or rarely shrubs , deciduous, semievergreen, or evergreen , monoecious or rarely dioecious; bark tight (or exfoliating) . Branchlets with solid or chambered pith . Terminal buds subglobose or ovoid to oblong , naked or with scales . Stipules absent. Leaves alternate (or opposite), odd- or even-pinnate, sometimes trifoliolate , rarely simple ; leaflets with glandular , peltate scales, often resinous and aromatic , particularly conspicuous abaxially on young leaves and twigs , margin serrate or rarely entire. Inflorescences pendulous or sometimes erect , lateral or terminal, on reduced shoots arising on branchlets of previous year (old growth) or on current year’s growth (new growth), of several types: androgynous panicle with male, lateral spikes and female, central spike; androgynous panicle with male, mainly lateral spikes and female, central spike male at apex; cluster of male spikes and solitary female spike; or solitary male and female spikes. Flowers unisexual , anemophilous , rarely entomophilous. Male flowers subtended by an entire or 3-lobed bract; bracteoles 2 or absent; sepals 0-4, adnate to receptacle when present; stamens 3-40(-100), inserted on receptacle; filaments short to nearly absent, free or united at base ; anthers glabrous or pubescent , 2-loculed, dehiscing longitudinally. Female flowers with an entire or 3-lobed bracts; bracteoles 2 or 3 (or absent) ; sepals 0-4, adnate to ovary, free at apex; gynoecium of 2 carpels united into an inferior ovary , 1-loculed, but at base 2-4(-8) -loculed; style 1, short or elongate , rarely absent; stigmas 2, carinal or commissural , sometimes 4-lobed, plumose or fleshy ; ovule 1, orthotropous . Fruiting spike elongate, and pendulous or short and erect, rarely conelike. Fruit a drupelike nut, 2-4(-8) -chambered at base, with a dehiscent or indehiscent husk , or a 2- or 3-winged or disc-winged nutlet . Seed solitary, without endosperm. Cotyledons 4-lobed, much contorted. Germination hypogeal or epigeal. 2n = (28), 32, (64) .

Nine genera and 60 or more species: mostly in temperate and subtropical regions of the N hemisphere; seven genera (one endemic) and 20 species (seven endemic, one introduced ) in China.[1]

Genus Carya

Trees , rarely shrubs , 3-52 m. Bark gray or brownish, smooth with fissures in younger trees, becoming ridged and sometimes deeply furrowed or exfoliating with small platelike scales or long strips or broad plates . Twigs greenish, orangish, reddish, or rusty brown, or bronze, terete , slender or stout, pubescent and scaly or glabrous ; leaf scars shield-shaped or 3-lobed, large; pith solid and homogeneous . Bud scales valvate or imbricate, glabrous or variously pubescent; axillary buds protected by pair of valvate bracteoles (i.e. , prophylls) or bracteoles fused into hood . Leaves odd-pinnate; petiole pubescent and/or scaly or glabrous. Leaflets 3-17(-21), petiolulate , distal leaflets largest, 2-26 × 1-14 cm; surfaces abaxially with nonglandular hairs (unicellular common to all species, fasciculate with 2-8 rays in 1 rank, multiradiate with 8-17 rays in 2 ranks ) and glandular scales (capitate-glandular and large peltate scales common to all species; small peltate scales round , irregular, or 2- or 4-lobed), adaxially with scattered hairs and scattered to abundant scales in spring or concentrated along midrib and secondary veins to essentially glabrous in the fall . Staminate catkins in fascicles of 3 (except sect. Rhamphocarya of se Asia) from 1st-, sometimes 2d-year twigs, sessile or pedunculate ; stamens 3-10(-15) per flower, with or without hairs. Pistillate flowers in terminal few-flowered spikes. Fruits nuts enclosed in husks , compressed or not compressed, husks completely or partially dehiscing, sutures smooth or winged ; nuts brown, reddish brown, or tan, sometimes mottled with black or tan, compressed or not compressed, angled or not angled, smooth, rugulose , or verrucose ; shells thin or thick. Seeds sweet or bitter . x = 16.

Species 18: e North America, Mexico, e Asia.

Carya was widespread during the Tertiary; fossils have been reported from the states of Colorado and Washington, and from China, Japan, Europe, and western Siberia. Today two sections of the genus occur in southeastern Asia (sect. Rhamphocarya and sect. Sinocarya ) and two in North America (sect. Apocarya, the so-called pecan hickories, and sect. Carya, the true hickories). Both 2 n = 32 and 2 n = 64 chromosome numbers are known for the genus; tetraploidy, however, is confined to sect. Carya.

The commercial use of Carya is substantial. The cultivated pecan, C. illinoinensis, is the most important nut tree native to North America, and the wood of the true hickories is unequaled for its use in tool handles because of the combined strength and shock resistance. Hickory nuts are also an important, high-quality food source for wildlife because they are high in proteins and fats. Carya cordiformis, C. glabra, and C. ovata are grown extensively in central Europe for timber.

Characters of the buds and bark are taxonomically important in Carya, but shoots with terminal buds and information about bark characteristics are frequently absent on herbarium specimens. Phenotypic variation from tree to tree is often considerable and difficult to quantify. Most of this variation undoubtedly results from adaptation to local and regional conditions; hybridization has probably played a subtle role as well. Sympatry of two or more species is common, and artificial pollinations suggest that even diploid × tetraploid crosses produce viable seed.[2]

Physical Description

Habit: TreeGrowth Form: Single StemShape and Orientation: Erect

Flowers: Bloom Period: Mid SpringFlower Color: Yellow • Flower Conspicuous: No

Seeds: Seed per Pound: 90 • Seed Spread Rate: Slow • Seedling Vigor: Low • Fruit/Seed Abundance: Medium • Fruit/Seed Color: Brown • Fruit/Seed Conspicuous: Yes • Cold Stratification Required: Yes

Foliage: Foliage Color: Green • Foliage Porosity Summer: Dense • Foliage Porosity Winter: Porous • Foliage Texture: CoarseFall Conspicuous: Yes • Leaf Retention: No

Size/Age/Growth

Active Growth Period: Spring and Summer • Growth Rate: Slow • Mature Height (feet): 100.0 • Maximum Height at 20 Years (feet): 18 • Size: over 40' tall. • Vegetative Spread Rate: None • Lifespan: Lifespan

Habitat

Typically found at an altitude of 0 to 1,092 meters (0 to 3,583 feet).[3]

Biology

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Reproduction

Duration: PerennialCoppice Potential: No • Progagated by Bulbs: No • Propagated by Bare Root: Yes • Propagated by Container: Yes • Propagated by Corms: No • Propagated by Cuttings: No • Propagated by Seed: Yes • Propagated by Sod: No • Propagated by Sprigs: No • Propagated by Tubers: No • Fruit/Seed Period Begin: Summer • Fruit/Seed Period End: FallFruit/Seed Persistence: No

Growth

Culture: Space over 40' apart.

Soil: Adapted to Medium Textured: Adapted to Medium Textured Soils • Adapted to Coarse Textured Soils: Yes • Anaerobic Tolerance: None • Salinity Tolerance: None • CaCO3 Tolerance: High • Minimum pH: 6.5 • Maximum pH: 7.4 • Fertility Requirement: Medium

Sunlight: Sun Exposure: Full Sun . • Shade Tolerance: Intolerant

Moisture: Drought Tolerance: Medium • Minimum Precipitation: 30 • Maximum Precipitation: 60 • Moisture Use: Medium

Temperature: Minimum Temperature (F): -28 • Minimum Frost Free Days: 125 • Cold Hardiness: 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b, 10a, 10b. (map)

Taxonomy

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Synonyms

Carya tomentosa (Lam. Ex Poir.) Nutt. • Carya tomentosa var. subcoriacea (Sarg.) Palmer & Steyermark • Hicoria tomentosa (Lam. Ex Poir.) Raf. • Juglans alba L. P. P.

Notes

Basionym : Juglandaceae Juglans alba L.

Basionym author: (L.)

Basionym: Juglandaceae Juglans alba L.

Basionym author: (L.)

Similar Species

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Members of the genus Carya

ZipcodeZoo has pages for 207 species, subspecies, varieties, forms, and cultivars in this genus. Here are just 100 of them:

C. alba (Mockernut Hickory) · C. aquatica (Bitter Pecan) · C. brownii (Brown's Hickory) · C. carolinae-septentrionalis (Southern Shagbark Hickory) · C. cathayensis (Chinese Hickory) · C. collina (Collin Hickory) · C. cordiformis (Bitternut Hickory) · C. demareei (Demaree Hickory) · C. dunbarii (Dunbar's Hickory) · C. floridana (Florida Hickory) · C. glabra (Pignut Hickory) · C. glabra megacarpa (Pignut Hickory) · C. glabra var. glabra (Pignut Hickory) · C. glabra var. glabra (P.Mill.) Sweet (Pignut Hickory) · C. glabra var. hirsuta (Pignut Hickory) · C. glabra var. megacarpa (Pignut Hickory) · C. illinoensis (Northern Pecan Carya Illinoensis) · C. illinoiensis 'Aggie' (Pecan) · C. illinoiensis 'Alley' (Pecan) · C. illinoiensis 'Amling' (Pecan) · C. illinoiensis 'Apache' (Pecan) · C. illinoiensis 'Barton' (Pecan) · C. illinoiensis 'Bests Early' (Pecan) · C. illinoiensis 'Blunk' (Pecan) · C. illinoiensis 'Bolds' (Pecan) · C. illinoiensis 'Boltens S-24' (Pecan) · C. illinoiensis 'Brake' (Pecan) · C. illinoiensis 'Brooks' (Pecan) · C. illinoiensis 'Burkett' (Pecan) · C. illinoiensis 'Busseron' (Pecan) · C. illinoiensis 'Caddo' (Pecan) · C. illinoiensis 'Campell 4' (Pecan) · C. illinoiensis 'Candy' (Pecan) · C. illinoiensis 'Canton' (Pecan) · C. illinoiensis 'Cape Fear' (Pecan) · C. illinoiensis 'Carlson #3' (Pecan) · C. illinoiensis 'Carlson Center' (Pecan) · C. illinoiensis 'Carmichael' (Pecan) · C. illinoiensis 'Centennial' (Pecan) · C. illinoiensis 'Cherokee' (Pecan) · C. illinoiensis 'Cherryle' (Pecan) · C. illinoiensis 'Chetopa' (Pecan) · C. illinoiensis 'Cheyenne' (Pecan) · C. illinoiensis 'Chickasaw' (Pecan) · C. illinoiensis 'Chief' (Pecan) · C. illinoiensis 'Choctaw' (Pecan) · C. illinoiensis 'Clark' (Pecan) · C. illinoiensis 'Colby' (Pecan) · C. illinoiensis 'Comanche' (Pecan) · C. illinoiensis 'Converse Major' (Pecan) · C. illinoiensis 'Cowley' (Pecan) · C. illinoiensis 'Coy' (Pecan) · C. illinoiensis 'Creek' (Pecan) · C. illinoiensis 'Curtis' (Pecan) · C. illinoiensis 'Davis' (Pecan) · C. illinoiensis 'Delmas' (Pecan) · C. illinoiensis 'Dependable' (Pecan) · C. illinoiensis 'Desirable' (Pecan) · C. illinoiensis 'Devore' (Pecan) · C. illinoiensis 'Doc Smith' (Pecan) · C. illinoiensis 'Dooley' (Pecan) · C. illinoiensis 'Elliott' (Pecan) · C. illinoiensis 'El Mart' (Pecan) · C. illinoiensis 'Evers' (Pecan) · C. illinoiensis 'Farley' (Pecan) · C. illinoiensis 'Fisher' (Pecan) · C. illinoiensis 'Forkert' (Pecan) · C. illinoiensis 'Frotscher' (Pecan) · C. illinoiensis 'F. W. Anderson' (Pecan) · C. illinoiensis 'Gage' (Pecan) · C. illinoiensis 'Gibson' (Pecan) · C. illinoiensis 'Giles' (Pecan) · C. illinoiensis 'Glen Minor' (Pecan) · C. illinoiensis 'Gloria Grande' (Pecan) · C. illinoiensis 'Gormely' (Pecan) · C. illinoiensis 'Govett' (Pecan) · C. illinoiensis 'Grabohls' (Pecan) · C. illinoiensis 'Gracross' (Pecan) · C. illinoiensis 'Graking' (Pecan) · C. illinoiensis 'Grapark Giant' (Pecan) · C. illinoiensis 'Gratex' (Pecan) · C. illinoiensis 'Grazona' (Pecan) · C. illinoiensis 'Greenriver' (Pecan) · C. illinoiensis 'Grotjan' (Pecan) · C. illinoiensis 'Halbert' (Pecan) · C. illinoiensis 'Halsly' (Pecan) · C. illinoiensis 'Harper' (Pecan) · C. illinoiensis 'Harris Super' (Pecan) · C. illinoiensis 'Hastings' (Pecan) · C. illinoiensis 'Havens' (Pecan) · C. illinoiensis 'Hirschi' (Pecan) · C. illinoiensis 'Hodge' (Pecan) · C. illinoiensis 'Hopi' (Pecan) · C. illinoiensis 'Houma' (Pecan) · C. illinoiensis 'Howell' (Pecan) · C. illinoiensis 'Humble' (Pecan) · C. illinoiensis 'Iago' (Pecan) · C. illinoiensis 'Ideal' (Pecan) · C. illinoiensis 'Imperial' (Pecan) · C. illinoiensis 'Indiana' (Pecan)

More Info

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Further Reading

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Notes

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Contributors

Data Sources

Accessed through GBIF Data Portal November 21, 2007:

Identifiers

Footnotes

  1. Anmin Lu, Donald E. Stone & L. J. Grauke "Juglandaceae". in Flora of China Vol. 4 Page 277. Published by Science Press (Beijing) and Missouri Botanical Garden Press. Online at EFloras.org. [back]
  2. Donald E. Stone "Carya". in Flora of North America Vol. 3. Oxford University Press. Online at EFloras.org. [back]
  3. Mean = 191.160 meters (627.165 feet), Standard Deviation = 192.470 based on 2,000 observations. Altitude information for each observation from British Oceanographic Data Centre. [back]
Last Revised: 7/15/2012