| The hickory tree is the common name for any of | | | | hickory wood a popular choice for such items as axe |
| around seventeen different species of trees | | | | handles, wheel carts, and even bows. One rather |
| belonging to the genus "Carya." If you are considering | | | | infamous use of hickory was in the famous hickory |
| it for your yard, here is an overview. | | | | paddles that were a standard in many homes and |
| There are about seventeen different species of | | | | school rooms and used for punishment. Today, |
| trees in the Carya genus. The name comes from the | | | | paddling with hickory switches or paddles is generally |
| Greek work kary which means nuts. A dozen of | | | | frowned on in society, but many older people have |
| these species are found in North America and the | | | | not so fond memories of hickory paddles. |
| remainder grow in Asia, mostly in China and Indochina. | | | | Hickory wood has a very high caloric content. This |
| The fruit of hickory trees are globular or oval nuts. | | | | had made them a popular choice for burning in wood |
| The nuts are in two halves which split apart when | | | | stoves. Hickory wood is also the wood of choice for |
| the fruit germinates. Some of the nuts are well | | | | smoke curing of food. Hickory smoke tends to add a |
| known foods for humans such as the popular pecan. | | | | distinct taste to cooked foods and most barbeque |
| Here are some additional hickory tree facts. | | | | cooks are familiar with hickory smoked cooking. |
| Hickory trees have several insect pests that get their | | | | One interesting fact about hickory trees is that they |
| primary food supply from them. Some of these | | | | are not self-compatible. When used with trees or |
| pests are relatively harmless, but others can damage | | | | flowering plants, it means that one tree can not |
| trees especially if the trees are subject to other | | | | pollinate itself. Nor can trees from the same source |
| stress. One small insect lives out its rather complex | | | | or type cross pollinate. A group of trees sharing a |
| life cycle on hickory trees. They form a small cocoon | | | | similar type is called a cultivar which is a coined word |
| like structure called a gall. The insect and the galls do | | | | that combines cultivated and variety. The fact that |
| no damage to the tree, but squirrels appear to be | | | | plants from the same cultivars can not pollinate each |
| inordinately fond of the galls and dig into the trees to | | | | other is of interest to anyone attempting to raise |
| extract and eat them. This often causes damage to | | | | hickories for their nuts. This would include pecan tree |
| the branches. | | | | growers. It is necessary to bring in some outside |
| Hickory is a hard but flexible wood. This has made | | | | trees in order to complete pollination. |