Illinois Natural History Survey - University of Illinois

Carya glabra
Sweet pignut hickory, Pignut hickory
Taxonomy

Synonyms: Carya ovalis odorata, Carya ovalis, Carya ovalis obovalis, Carya glabra megacarpa

Subspecific taxa:

Classification:

Other taxonomic & nomenclature sources: USDA PlantsITISThe Plant ListIPNI

Images

   
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Species Distribution
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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: FLNAUSDA PlantsBONAPBISON

Collections, Observations & Flowering by Month [?]

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M
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O
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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; ovate, oblanceolate leaf shape

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 characteristic of wooded slopes and ridges.

ILPIN Notes: Pistillate flowers are perigynous in spikes; small leaflets; pear-shaped fruits. This is a good ornamental tree, but difficult to transplant. Species is common to occasional. Wood is heavy, hard, tough, and strong. Nut is barely edible, often bitter. Nut is often bitter. Pistillate flowers are perigynous in spikes; fruit husk is thick, large fruit; larger leaflets than other variety. This is including var. obcordata (Muhl. & Willd.) Sarg. Nut is sweet. Pistillate flowers are perigynous and in spikes; scaly bark; 7 leaflets; minutely yellow-dotted buds; ellipsoid fruits splitting all the way to the base. Pistillate flowers are perigynous and in spikes; fruit is broadest in upper half, narrowed at the base (obovoid). Pistillate flowers are perigynous and in spikes; lower surface of leaflets are conspicuously covered with glands and rather sticky; husk of fruit is strongly winged.

Functional Relationships:

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

Human Relationships:

  • Edibility [?] :
  • Showy Flowers:

Wildlife and Livestock Information:

  • Food Value:
  • Cover Value: small non-game bird: good

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

  • Entire State: 5
  • Chicago Area: 5

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