JUGLANDACEAE - - Walnut Family

Carya ovata (P. Miller) K. Koch — Common Shagbark Hickory

Shagbark Hickory (Carya ovata is a medium-sized forest tree, 70 to 80 feet high and 1 to 2 feet in diameter (max. 120 by 4 feet), with a straight, cylindrical trunk and more or less oblong crown, a feature of several of the hickories. The leaves are compound, alternate, 8 to 14 inches long, with five (rarely seven) somewhat elliptical leaflets often broadest, however, near the tip; smooth above, smooth or finely hairy below; the upper three leaflets larger than the lower two; margins, finely serrate. The bark, at first smooth and gray; later, breaking up into characteristic plates the ends of which curve away from the trunk.

Habitat:

Mostly found on rich moist bottomlands but sometimes on slopes and even occasionally on dry upland flats. When the early settlers were choosing the location for their homes and especially farms they quickly learned to look for Shagbark Hickory as an indicator species of rich alluvial soils.

Other Information:

Carya ovata is a large hickory tree, generally found in moist, rich soils along creeks and river floodplains. The leaves have 5 leaflets; twigs are large and hairy; end buds large, with dark brown scales soon falling to reveal white inner bud; fruit large with thick husk; seed pointed on one end; bark shaggy.

The native range of Carya ovata (Common Shagbark Hickory)

Kartesz, J.T., The Biota of North America Program (BONAP). 2015. North American Plant Atlas. (http://bonap.net/napa). Chapel Hill, N.C. [maps generated from Kartesz, J.T. 2015. Floristic Synthesis of North America, Version 1.0. Biota of North America Program (BONAP). (in press)].

The Georgia range of Carya ovata (Common Shagbark Hickory)

Zomlefer, W.B., J.R. Carter, & D.E. Giannasi. 2014 (and ongoing). The Atlas of Georgia Plants. University of Georgia Herbarium (Athens, Georgia) and Valdosta State University Herbarium (Valdosta, Georgia). Available at: http://www.georgiaherbaria.org/.