Common Name: Shagbark Hickory
Scientific Name: Carya ovata
Other Names:
Leaf: Alternate; yellow-greenish, paler in bottom; sparselty hairy on the bottom; 5-7 leaflets on a central stalk that is 15-25 cm; leaflets widest at middle, pointed at end; finely toothed, 2-3 tufts of hair per tooth.
Flower: Very small; green; male and female flowers grow on same tree, male catkins are 5-10 cm long, female flowers in small erect clusters, flower in spring.
Fruit: Almost spherical; 3-5 cm long, wider than long; solitary or in pairs; woody think husk, rip at base when fruit ripe; nut shell thin and hard; sweet edible kernel.
Twig: Stout; shing; reddish-brown to grayish-brown.
Bark: Dark gray; separate into long plates with age, free at lower end or both ends giving shaggy appearance.
Wood: Heavy, hard; fine grained.
Facts About this Tree:
1. It reaches a height of 60 to 80 feet and spreads 25 to 35 feet.
2. Shagbark Hickory occurs in southern Ontario. It grows in rich moist soils on hill sides and valleys.
3. It is the main source of edible hickory nuts and therefore an important food for squirrels. They also provide the best quality hickory wood. Native Americans used to make use to boil the sap to make a syrup.
4. They are also excellent fuel. A cord can produce as much heat as a ton of anthracite coal.
Lat, Long: 43.75311, -79.65207
Diameter (DBH): 39 Cm
Last Year Modified: 2015
Carbon Stored in this Tree: 565 kg of C
Equivalent CO2: 2071.46 kg of C
Find more trees in Claireville Conservation Area
Reference
1. Farrar, J. L. 2007. Trees in Canada. ON. Canadian Forest Service.
2. Kershaw, Linda. 2001. Trees of Ontario. Edmonton, AB Canada. Lone Pine Publishing
3. Gilman, Edward F. and Watson, Dennis G. Carya Ovata Shagbark Hickory. Fact Sheet ST-123. Retrieved on Dec. 2014 from http://hort.ufl.edu/database/documents/pdf/tree_fact_sheets/carovaa.pdf.
4. ‘Shagbark Hickory Nuts’ by Dan Mullen via Flickr – https://www.flickr.com/photos/8583446@N05/3961305922/;
‘Carya ovata (shagbarck hickory), New York Botanical Garden’ by Kristine Paulus via Flickr – https://www.flickr.com/photos/kpaulus/15055132940/;
‘Shagbark Hickory’ by Peter Gorman via Flickr – https://www.flickr.com/photos/52421717@N00/4576385065/;
‘2007-04-17 32 Carya ovata’ by Du-Sa-Ni-Ma via Flickr – https://www.flickr.com/photos/dusanima/473621555/;
‘Shagbark hickory (Carya ovata)’ by Kew on Flickr via Flickr – https://www.flickr.com/photos/kewonflickr/6220423532/
Copyright 2015Association for Canadian Educational Resources
In 2012 the Claireville Conservation Area Management Plan Update was finalized. This plan for Claireville Conservation Area is a comprehensive management plan to guide future use of the Conservation Area and replaces the 1997 edition.