Illinois Natural History Survey - University of Illinois

Carya ovata
Shellbark hickory, Small shagbark hickory, Ash-leaved shagbark hickory
Taxonomy

Synonyms: Carya ovata fraxinifolia, Carya ovata nuttallii

Subspecific taxa:

Classification:

Other taxonomic & nomenclature sources: USDA Plants;  ITIS;  The Plant List;  IPNI

Images

   
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Species Distribution
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More about map & occurrence records

County Map Legend
Absent:
Not known from county
Medium confidence:
Medium or unknown confidence;
often old records or unverifiable observations
Medium-high confidence:
Often observations by expert botanists
High confidence:
Often vouchered herbarium records
Planted / introduced:
Native species introduced outside historic range,
or only in planted locations within county (e.g., restorations)
Historic / extirpated:
Only historic records for the species; likely extirpated
(Note that this category is not yet functional)

North American distribution maps for this species: FLNA;  USDA Plants;  BONAP;  BISON

Collections, Observations & Flowering by Month [?]

J
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F
0
M
0
A
0
M
0
J
0
J
0
A
0
S
0
O
0
N
0
D
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Collections & Observations by Decade [?]

Species Status

Status/Listing: No Information

Notes:

Origin: Native

Species Description

General: Dicot-woody, perennial

Roots: primary

Shoots: alternate leaf arrangment; compound, pinnately leaf type; serrate leaf margin; Pinnate leaf venation

Inflorescence: spike, catkin

Flowers: unisexual, monoecious; incomplete, not petals; perigynous ovary position

Fruit: nut

Physiology: autotrophic; C3 C02 fixation

Reproduction: sexual

Ecology & Natural History

Habitat: Species is distributed in rocky hillsides.

ILPIN Notes: Form - whips, seedlings, balled & burlapped, seeds. Wood is very heavy, hard, strong, tough, close grained, and elastic. Pistillate flowers are perigynous and in spikes; shaggy bark; large winter buds; 5 large leaflets. Seed company numbers: 2, 13, 17, 28, 29. Species is common to occasional. Terrestrial furbearers (esp. squirrels) eat nuts, bark as food. Regarding waterfowl food value, this pertains especially to wood ducks. Regarding small mammals food value, this pertains especially to eastern chipmunks. Nut is sweet; causes hayfever. Pistillate flowers are perigynous and in spikes; small obovoid fruit; narrower leaves. Pistillate flowers are perigynous and in spikes; large leaflets; small fruit.

Functional Relationships:

  • Pollinators: wind
  • Dispersal: bird, mammal, gravity
  • Mycorrhizae:
  • N2 fixation:

Human Relationships:

  • Edibility [?] :
  • Showy Flowers:

Wildlife and Livestock Information:

  • Food Value: deer: good; upland game birds: good; waterfowl: good; small non-game bird: good; small mammals: good
  • Cover Value:

Coefficient of Conservatism (C-value) [?] :

  • Entire State: 4
  • Chicago Area: 5

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