Carya ovata (Shagbark hickory)

Carya ovata (Mill.) K. Koch

Carya ovata (Mill.) K. Koch var. fraxinifolia Sarg.

Carya ovata (Mill.) K. Koch var. nuttallii Sarg.

Carya ovata (Mill.) K. Koch var. pubescens Sarg.

Hicoria alba Britton p.p.

Hicoria borealis Ashe

Hicoria ovata (Mill.) Britton

Shagbark hickory

Kingdom	Plantae	Plants, but not fungi, lichens, or algae
Subkingdom	Tracheobionta	Vascular plants—plants with a “circulatory system” for delivering water and nutrients
Division	Magnoliophyta	Flowering plants, also known as angiosperms
Class	Magnoliopsida	Dicotyledons—plants with two initial seed leaves
Subclass	Rosidae	Roses, legumes, proteas, dogwoods, hydrangeas, mistletoes, euphorbias, grapes, many more
Order	Fagales	Birch, she-oak, beech, walnut, bayberry, others
Family	Juglandaceae	Walnut family
Genus	Carya	Greek κάρυον, “nut”
Species	ovata	Refers to the ovate (egg-shaped) leaves

About plant names...

Shagbark hickory is common in eastern North America.

Identification: Trees are 70-90' (21-27 m) tall, rarely up to 150' (45 m). The bark is smooth and gray when young, becoming “shaggy” with age, with long loose scales. Leaves are 8-14" (20-35 cm) long, in groups of 5 or 7. They are pale green and fuzzy on the bottom; oval-shaped, pointed on both ends, with small sharp serrations.

Edibility: Shagbark hickory nuts are edible, and have a sweet taste.

Online References:

Carya ovata on www.carolinanature.com

Carya ovata at the University of Connecticut Plant Database

Carya ovata at the USDA Forest Service's Silvics of North America site

Carya ovata on Wikipedia

Carya ovata at the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center

Carya ovata on floridata.com

Carya ovata at the University of Florida Environmental Horticulture site (PDF)

Carya ovata on eFloras

References:

Sibley, David Allen, The Sibley Guide to Trees, Alfred A. Knopf, 2009, p. 143

11/5/2009 · Pepperell, Massachusetts
≈ 4½ × 3" (11 × 7.9 cm)

5/2/2010 · Tom and Susan’s, Pepperell, Massachusetts
≈ 6 × 4½" (15 × 11 cm)

11/5/2009 · Pepperell, Massachusetts
≈ 4½ × 3" (11 × 7.9 cm)

5/31/2010 · Tom and Susan’s, Pepperell, Massachusetts
≈ 21 × 14" (52 × 34 cm)

8/22/2012 · Squannacook River Wildlife Area, Townsend, Massachusetts
≈ 14 × 9" (35 × 23 cm)

4/14/2010 · Mt. Lebanon St., Pepperell, Massachusetts

7/31/2018 · Andres Art Institute, Big Bear Mountain, Brookline, New Hampshire
≈ 5 × 4" (12 × 10 cm)

Carya ovata description by Thomas H. Kent, last updated 25 May 2020.

7/31/2018 · Andres Art Institute, Big Bear Mountain, Brookline, New Hampshire
≈ 9 × 6" (22 × 16 cm)

1/5/2012 · Groton Place and Sabine Woods, Groton, Massachusetts
≈ 31 × 46" (78 × 117 cm)

Very young stage. · 5/12/2007 · Pepperell, Massachusetts

Older bark is shaggy and loose. · 5/31/2010 · Mt. Lebanon St., Pepperell, Massachusetts
≈ 14 × 21" (34 × 52 cm)

4/28/2010 · Nashua River Rail Trail, Pepperell, Massachusetts
≈ 4 × 7" (11 × 17 cm)

4/20/2012 · Nashua River Rail Trail, East Pepperell, Pepperell, Massachusetts
≈ 8 × 10" (19 × 25 cm)

7/31/2018 · Andres Art Institute, Big Bear Mountain, Brookline, New Hampshire
≈ 6 × 4" (15 × 10 cm)

Young bark is smooth, with vertical stripes. · 5/31/2010 · Tom and Susan’s, Pepperell, Massachusetts
≈ 5 × 8" (13 × 19 cm)

5/21/2013 · Beaver Brook Assn Conservation Lands, Rte. 130, Hollis, New Hampshire
≈ 6 × 8" (14 × 20 cm)

Details of leaf underside. · 5/31/2010 · Tom and Susan’s, Pepperell, Massachusetts

Range:

About this map...