Sunday November 11, 2007

More About Hickory Trees

I’ve never paid much attention to the seventy+ trees in our yard, other than most of them are very tall, and several drop some kind of nut (hickory or acorn).

Yesterday Cerwin pointed out the difference in the leaves of our Hickory trees.

Some have brown, dried leaves, while others have  yellow leaves.

The bark isn’t too different – except the brown-leafed tree may be a bit shaggier.

The nuts (still in their husk) of the brown-leafed tree are noticeably smaller.

The biggest difference is the shape of the nut – after being removed from the husk.  The brown-leafed nut is rounded on the top, making it almost heart-shaped, while the other is pointed at both ends.

The meat of the nut doesn’t look or taste very different. 

However, after trying to open these, I remember why we don’t bother using them.  It takes a hammer on concrete to open them!  I tried a nutcracker and was successful a few times.

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I have concluded that the yellow-leafed tree is a Kingnut Shellbark, because the nut is large and pointed at both ends, but I have not been able to determine the identity of the brown-leafed tree.  Other Hickory trees in Pennsylvania are Bitternut, Mockernut, Pignut, and Shagbark.

It sounds like a Pignut, but the nut I tasted was not bitter.  It also looks like a Shagbark nut, but the bark should be shaggier. 

Conclusion:  More research is needed!