Michigan Trees Part 19

+Mocker Nut Hickory+

_Carya alba (L.) K. Koch_ [_Hicoria alba (L.) Britt._] [_Carya tomentosa Nutt._]

HABIT.--A tree 50-70 feet high, with a trunk diameter of 1-2-1/2 feet; forming a wide crown of strong, upright branches and stout branchlets.

LEAVES.--Alternate, compound, 8-12 inches long. Leaflets usually 5-7, sometimes 9, the upper 5-8 inches long, 3-4 inches broad; sessile, except the terminal; oblong- to obovate-lanceolate; minutely or sometimes coa.r.s.ely serrate; thick and firm; l.u.s.trous, dark yellow-green above, paler and more or less p.u.b.escent beneath. Petioles p.u.b.escent. Foliage fragrant when crushed.

FLOWERS.--May, after the leaves; monoecious; the staminate in pendulous, ternate catkins 4-5 inches long, slender, green, hairy; scales 3-lobed, hairy; stamens 4-5, with red anthers; the pistillate in crowded, 2-5-flowered, tomentose spikes; calyx toothed, hairy; corolla 0; stigmas 2, hairy.

FRUIT.--October; globose to globose-oblong, 1-1/2-2 inches long, with thick husk splitting nearly to the base; nut 4-ridged, red-brown, with very thick, hard sh.e.l.l and small, sweet kernel.

WINTER-BUDS.--Terminal bud 1/2-3/4 inch long, broadly ovoid, red-brown, pilose; outermost scales fall in early autumn.

BARK.--Twigs at first brown-tomentose, becoming smooth and grayish; on the trunk thick, hard, grayish, slightly ridged by shallow, irregular fissures, becoming rugged on very old trunks.

WOOD.--Very heavy, hard, strong, tough, close-grained, elastic, dark brown, with thick, whitish sapwood.

DISTRIBUTION.--Southern Peninsula as far north as Grand Rapids and Flint.

Infrequent.

HABITAT.--Prefers rich, well-drained soil, but grows well in various situations, if they are not too wet.

NOTES.--Hardy throughout its range. Difficult to transplant.

[Ill.u.s.tration: +Small Pignut Hickory+

1. Winter twig, 1.

2. Leaf, 1/3.

3. Flowering branchlet, 1/2.

4. Staminate flower, enlarged.

5. Pistillate flower, enlarged.

6. Fruit, 1.]

+JUGLANDACEAE+

+Small Pignut Hickory+

_Carya microcarpa Nutt._ [_Hicoria odorata (Marsh.) Sarg._] [_Hicoria microcarpa (Nutt.) Britt._] [_Hicoria glabra, v. odorata Sarg._]

HABIT.--A tree usually 50-70 feet high, with a trunk diameter of 1-3 feet; forming an oblong or sometimes rounded crown of slender, spreading branches.

LEAVES.--Alternate, compound, 8-12 inches long. Leaflets usually 5-7, the upper 3-6 inches long, 2-2-1/2 inches broad; sessile, except the terminal; oblong to ovate-lanceolate, long-pointed; sharply serrate; thick and firm; glabrous, dark yellow-green above, lighter beneath.

Petioles long, glabrous. Foliage fragrant when crushed.

FLOWERS.--May, after the leaves; monoecious; the staminate in pendulous, ternate catkins 3-7 inches long, slender, greenish, glabrous; stamens 4, with orange anthers; the pistillate in 2-5-flowered spikes, 1/4 inch long; calyx 4-toothed, hairy; corolla 0; stigmas 2, yellow.

FRUIT.--September; subglobose or globose-oblong, less than 1 inch long, with thin husk splitting nearly to the base; nut obscurely 4-ridged, with thin sh.e.l.l and small, sweet kernel.

WINTER-BUDS.--1/4-1/2 inch long, dome-shaped, red-brown, smooth.

BARK.--Twigs greenish, long-hairy, becoming reddish and finally gray; thick, hard and grayish on the trunk, divided by shallow fissures into narrow plates, and more or less s.h.a.ggy.

WOOD.--Heavy, hard, strong, tough, close-grained, elastic, dark brown, with thick, whitish sapwood.

DISTRIBUTION.--Confined to the most southern portions of the Lower Peninsula.

HABITAT.--Prefers well-drained slopes and hillsides.

NOTES.--Resembles _C. glabra_, but the nut is much smaller.

[Ill.u.s.tration: +Pignut Hickory+

1. Winter twig, 1.

2. Leaf, 1/4.

3. Flowering branchlet, 1.

4. Staminate flower, enlarged.

5. Pistillate flower, enlarged.

6. Fruit, 2/3.]

+JUGLANDACEAE+

+Pignut Hickory+

_Carya glabra (Mill.) s.p.a.ch._ [_Hicoria glabra (Mill.) Britt._] [_Carya porcina Nutt._]

HABIT.--A tree usually 50-65 feet high, with a trunk diameter of 1-3 feet; forming a low, rather narrow, open crown of slender, often contorted branches.

LEAVES.--Alternate, compound, 8-12 inches long. Leaflets usually 5-7, the upper 3-6 inches long, 2-2-1/2 inches broad; subsessile, except the terminal; oblong to obovate-lanceolate, taper-pointed; sharply serrate; thick and firm; glabrous, dark yellow-green above, paler beneath.

Petioles long, slender, glabrous or p.u.b.escent. Foliage fragrant when crushed.

FLOWERS.--May, after the leaves; monoecious; the staminate in pendulous, ternate catkins 3-7 inches long, slender, yellow-green, tomentose; scales 3-lobed, nearly glabrous; stamens 4, with orange anthers; the pistillate in crowded, 2-5-flowered spikes, 1/4 inch long; calyx 4-toothed, hairy; corolla 0; stigmas 2, yellow.

FRUIT.--October; variable in size and shape, 1-1/2-2 inches long, with thin husk splitting half-way and sometimes nearly to the base; nut obscurely 4-ridged, with thin or thick, hard sh.e.l.l and small, sweet or slightly bitter kernel which is hard to remove.

WINTER-BUDS.--Terminal bud 1/4-1/2 inch long, dome-shaped, greenish or grayish, smooth or finely downy.

BARK.--Twigs greenish, nearly glabrous, becoming reddish, and finally grayish; thick, hard and grayish on the trunk, with a firm, close surface divided by small fissures and sometimes broken into plates.

WOOD.--Heavy, hard, very strong, tough, close-grained, elastic, dark brown, with thick, whitish sapwood.

DISTRIBUTION.--Occurs only in the extreme southern portion of the Lower Peninsula. Common within its range.