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THE HICKORIES, WALNUT, AND BUTTERNUT

How to tell them from other trees and from each other: The hickory trees, though symmetrical, have a rugged appearance and the branches are so sturdy and black as to give a special distinction to this group. The buds are different from the buds of all other trees and sufficiently characteristic to distinguish the various species of the group. The bark is also a distinguishing character.

The walnut and butternut have chambered piths which distinguish them from all other trees and from each other.



SHAGBARK HICKORY (Hicoria ovata - note: in modern times called Carya ovata)

Distinguishing characters: The yellowish-brown buds nearly as large as those of the mockernut hickory, are each provided with two long, dark, outer scales which stand out very conspicuously. The bark in older specimens shags off in rough strips, sometimes more than a foot long. These two characters will readily distinguish the tree at all seasons of the year.
Bark 'Shagging'
Leaf: The leaf is compound, consisting of 5 or 7 leaflets, the terminal one generally larger.
Compound Leaf
Form and size: A tall, stately tree—the tallest of the hickories—of rugged form and fine symmetry.
The Shagbark
Range: Eastern North America.
Shagbark Range
Soil and location: The shagbark hickory grows in a great variety of soils, but prefers a deep and rather moist soil.
Hickory Leaves and Fruit
Enemies: The hickory bark borer (Scolytus quadrispinosus) is its principal enemy. The insect is now killing thousands of hickory trees in the vicinity of New York City and on several occasions has made its appearance in large numbers in other parts of the country.
Hickory Bark Borer Relative (Scolytus scolytus)
Value for planting: It is difficult to transplant, grows slowly and is seldom found in nurseries.
Shagbark Sapling
Commercial value: The wood is extremely tough and hard and is used for agricultural implements and for the manufacture of wagons. It is excellent for fuel and the nuts are of great value as a food.

Other characters: The fruit is a nut covered by a thick husk that separates into 4 or 5 segments. The kernel is sweet.
Hickory Nuts
Other common names: Shellbark hickory.

Directions

Study the lesson for one week.

Over the week:

  • Read the lesson.
  • Review the synopsis.
  • Recite aloud the vocabulary words and their definitions.
  • Learn the concepts.
  • Complete the enrichment activities.
  • Study the review questions.

Synopsis

This lesson introduces the hickories, walnut, and butternut trees and focuses on the shagbark hickory. The shagbark hickory earned its name because it 'shags' or sheds off its bark in long strips. The shagbark hickory has compound leaves and buds covered by two dark scales. It produces the hickory nut, a segmented and sweet tasting nut. The scientific (Latinized) name of the shagbark hickory is Carya ovata (historically Hicoria ovata).

Vocabulary

Hickory Nut: One of the large edible nuts of the hickory tree.
Compound Leaf: A leaf that has a fully subdivided blade, therefore having leaflets.

Concepts

HICKORY NUTS: FRUIT OF THE HICKORY TREE

  1. Hickory nuts are the fruit of the hickory tree.
  2. Similar to acorns and chestnuts, hickory nuts encompass a seed or embryonic plant and can grow into new hickory trees.
  3. The edible portion of hickory nuts are encased in thick shells.

Recite and point out the following parts of the hickory nut on the diagram:

  1. Pericarp (A)
  2. Seed Coat (B)
  3. Cotyledons (C)
  4. Hypocotyl (D)
  5. Radicle (E)

The nut of the hickory tree is edible and nutritious, often served roasted.

Enrichment

Activity 1: Narrate the Lesson

  • After reading or listening to the lesson, narrate the lesson aloud using your own words.

Activity 2: Study the Lesson Pictures

  • Study the lesson pictures and describe how they relate to the lesson.

Activity 3: Take a Nature Walk

  • Bring a small sketchbook and a specimen collection bag and embark on a nature walk.
  • Seek out a hickory tree or tree of your choice.
  • Study and sketch the appearance and habitat of the tree.
  • Collect one or more leaves and nuts from the tree as specimens.
  • Use the gathered specimens and sketches to create the field book entry.

Activity 4: Complete a Field Book Entry   

After your nature walk, complete pages 15-16 in 'Science Field Book for Fourth Grade.'

Review

Question 1

What purpose does the hickory nut serve for its tree?
1 / 3

Answer 1

TODO.
1 / 3

Question 2

You pick some nuts off a hickory tree. Describe how you would prepare them for eating.
2 / 3

Answer 2

TODO.
2 / 3

Question 3

What are two prominent features that help to identify a shagbark hickory in winter?
3 / 3

Answer 3

Its buds are each covered in two dark scales and its bark 'shags' off in long strips.
3 / 3

  1. What purpose does the hickory nut serve for its tree? TODO.
  2. You pick some nuts off a hickory tree. Describe how you would prepare them for eating. TODO.
  3. What are two prominent features that help to identify a shagbark hickory in winter? Its buds are each covered in two dark scales and its bark 'shags' off in long strips.

References

  1. 'Studies of Trees' by Jacob Joshua Levison. gutenberg.org/ebooks/16116. n.p.
  2. 'Hickory Tree, genus Carya, Morton Arboretum accession 29-U-10 by Bruce Marlin (CC BY-SA 2.5).' Wikimedia Commons. commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Carya_Morton_29-U-10.jpg. n.p.

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