The hickory tree is one of the most valuable walnut trees. It can reach 65 meters in height and bear fruit, even when it turns three hundred years old. We will talk about how the hickory tree looks and where it is used in the article.
What is this tree?
Hickory, or hazel, is a genus of plants that belong to the nut family. Walnuts are closest to them in quality and appearance. But the hickory fruits are smaller, their grooves are not so deep and smoother, and the shell is much thicker. To split them, you have to make an effort.
The name "hazel" is more famous. It came from the ancient Greek language, where it means "hazel". The name "hickory" is narrower and is the invention of the North American Indians who have long used it for food.
The hickory genus includes about 27 species, which include fringe, ovoid, Illinois, pecan, hickory bitter, aquatic, Tonkin, Florida, Texas, etc. All of them may slightly differ in the shape and taste of the fruit, the shade of the bark, and the shape of the leaves. However, pure species of these trees are rare in nature. Species close to each other easily interbreed, acquiring new qualities.
Where does the hickory tree grow?
Hickory is an old-timer on Earth. These trees grew on the planet before the ice age. North America and Asia are considered their historical homeland, but now they can be found in the Caucasus, in the Crimea. In Asia, only Tonkin and Katai are found, the rest of the species grow freely in the USA and Canada, which is why hickory is often called an American nut.
The hickory tree prefers a humid, moderately warm climate. It hardly tolerates severe frosts and dies if the temperature lingers for a long time below minus twenty degrees. The plant loves light and moisture. Often it grows near rivers, whose valleys are regularly flooded with water. Despite this, the tree does not tolerate very wetlands.
Hickory is found in deciduous forests and is able to withstand shading. In the forest, its crown is extended, and the branches grow high. The composition of the soil is not so important for the tree; it easily grows on clay, rocky, forest and humus-rich terrain.
Tree description
Only Florida hazel is a shrub, the rest of the genus is trees. Hickory are deciduous and monoecious. Female and male flowers are on the same plant. They are pollinated by the wind. Fruits are showered still green if pollination occurs within the same tree, and not between different individuals.
Hickory tree can grow up to 65 meters in height. The branches vary in thickness: they are thick in the North Carolina and shaggy species, in the brown heart-shaped and naked, they are thin. Their color of young shoots varies from green and brownish to dark purple.
The bark is initially smooth and gray, with time it begins to exfoliate and become covered with cracks. The crown of the tree is sprawling and has a tent-like shape. Leaves slightly elongated, pointed at the ends. On the edges they are surrounded by grooves. In the fall they turn yellow and fall. Each leaflet, except for the topmost one, has its own opposed pair. On the handle they can be from 5 to 17. The further from the beginning of the stem, the larger their size.
Hickory fruit
The fruits of the hickory tree in botany are defined as false drupes. Their top layer is a soft green peel, which eventually turns brown and becomes stiff. When the fruit ripens, the shell cracks into four parts.
Under the husk is a "bone" with a nut inside. The bony membrane is of different thicknesses. It is devoid of cracks and holes, which is why cracking it is a very laborious task. But this device does not allow caterpillars, worms and other pests to penetrate the fetus. The nuts themselves are small, yellowish white or brown in color.
All trees of this genus are divided into two large groups. The former have bitter and unsuitable fruits for humans. Nevertheless, squirrels, foxes, chipmunks, rabbits and birds eat them with pleasure. Trees of the second group have sweet and very healthy nuts. Edible hickory nuts are often combined under the name "pecan."
Benefits of Hazelnuts
A person cultivates and eats the kernels of brown fringe hazel, ordinary pecan, egg brown, etc. Their fruits are very sweet and the fattest among all existing nuts. They contain a lot of protein, amino acids, trace elements and vitamins.
They are eaten raw, dried or fried. Sprinkle them with pastries, add to salads or cereals. Pecan satisfies hunger for a long time, saturates the body with energy and at the same time cleanses the blood, lowers cholesterol.
Hickory fruits contain 19 different vitamins and minerals. They have a lot of potassium, magnesium, phosphorus, iron, selenium, and folic acid, which is most important for humans. The nut also contains vitamins A, B 1, B 5, C, E. But you should not overeat them either, the body can easily cope with only one hundred grams of nuts per day.
From the fruits of hazel make oil, which in properties surpasses even olive. It is eaten and used externally. Oil enhances immunity, and when applied to the skin gives it elasticity, soothes and softens.
