I chose the shagbark hickory because I recognize this beautiful tree from where I live, in Columbus Ohio .
The botanical name is Carya ovata.
Shagbark is a perennial.
It is a fairly common tree in the eastern
Together with pignut, shagbark makes up commercial use hickory.
The tree is given its name from its loose shaggy bark. Only mature trees have this characteristic, young trees have smooth bark.
The flowers are small and wind pollinated.
The leaves can be 30- 60 cm. long, with 5 leaflets.
These trees can grow up to 27 meters high, and can live to be 200 years old.
Shagbark hickory grows best in a humid climate.
The soils within shagbark's environment are made from a variety of materials, such as sedimentary and metaphoric rocks, glacial till, and loess.
This species is monoecious and flowers in the spring.
Its active growth period is spring and summer.
Their seeds are dispersed from September through December.
Shagbark hickory is very susceptible to damage by fire.
Light fires can result in the hault of reproduction and saplings.
Hotter fires may kill larger trees and wound others, making them subject to rot and lower grade lumber, loss of volume.
Holes made through the bark by sapsuckers cause a discoloration of the wood that results in the rejection of a considerable amount of hickory lumber.
Hickories are affected by at least 133 known fungi and 10 other diseases.
At least 180 species of insects and mites are reported to infest hickory trees and
wood products but few cause serious damage.
They have a very thick shell around the nut.
The nuts are a preferred food of squirrels and are eaten in early August until the supply is gone.
In addition to the mammals above, black bears, gray and red foxes, rabbits, and white-footed mice plus bird species such as mallards, wood ducks, bobwhites, and wild turkey utilize small amounts of hickory nuts.
This is a very popular fuelwood and charcoal producing wood.
Hickories are known for their strength, hardness, and toughness.
Some uses of hickories are furniture, tool handles, and flooring.
Hickories are also used for production of their delicious nuts.
The bark of these trees can also be used to be a flavoring in sugar syrup!
Shagbark hickory is not considered to be invasive.
Shagbark is also used for making bows of Native Americans in the northern area.
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Distribution of Shagbark Hickory in the U.S.
(http://plants.usda.gov/maps/large/CA/CAOV2.png)
(http://www.duke.edu/~cwcook/trees/caov.html) Shagbark Hickory Tree
(http://www.pinenut.com/closehick300x225.JPG) Hickory Nuts
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Part II
Carya ovata, the shagbark hickory tree, is native to
Shagbark
Poria spiculosa which causes canker rot is probably the most serious and widespread of all hickory diseases. A canker can appear around a dead branch, and can spread the wood rot fungus to the entire tree. Anthracnose, (Gnomonia caryae) is another common hickory disease which causes purplish or red spots on the leaf. It can form blotches, and make the leaves fall in wet seasons. Mildew can invade leaves and twigs and can cause witches’ broom. Witches broom is a deformity in which a mass of shoots grow from a single point on a branch that resembles a witches’ broom or a bird’s nest. Another common virus called bunch disease is possibly carried by insects, can cause witches’ broom and can kill heavily affected trees prematurely. A bacterial disease, crown gall, causes big wart like tumors on the base of the tree on the roots. It will eventually kill the tree.
There are a number of 180 species of bugs that infect hickories, but don’t tend to cause much damage. The most important insect enemy of hickory and other hardwoods in the
While there are numerous diseases and bugs affecting the life of these trees, none of them are nearly as serious as the emerald ash borer. The ash tree in the
According to the World Wildlife Foundation, the Shagbark Hickory is in two biomes, in the
Bibliography
Biome. [Internet]. Wikipedia. [Cited 2008 February 25]. Available from: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biomes Koch, K. Carya Ovata. [Internet]. Northeastern Area State and Private Forestry. [Cited 2008 February 19].
Available from: http://www.na.fs.fed.us/spfo/pubs/silvics_manual/volume_2/carya/ovata.htm
Mohawk, John,
Shagbark Hickory. [Internet]. Blue Planet Biomes. [Cited 2008 February 26]. Available from: http://www.blueplanetbiomes.org/shagbark_hickory.htm
Shagbark Hickory. [Internet]. Wikipedia. [Cited 2008 February 19]. Available from: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shagbark_hickory