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Hickory trees are a type of hardwood tree that is native to North America. These trees are known for their strong wood, which is often used in making furniture and other wood products.
There are four main types of hickory trees found in Michigan.
In this blog post, we’ll take a closer look at each of these hickory trees and what sets them apart.
1. Pignut Hickory
The pignut hickory is a type of hickory tree that is native to Michigan. This tree is characterized by its small, round nuts that are encased in a thick shell. The pignut hickory is a deciduous tree, which means that it loses its leaves in the fall and grows new ones in the spring.
The bark of this tree is smooth and light-colored, with a reddish tinge. The leaves of the pignut hickory are long and narrow, with serrated edges. These leaves turn yellow in the fall before they are shed.
The pignut hickory is a valuable tree for wildlife in Michigan.
The nuts produced by this tree are an important food source for many animals, including squirrels, chipmunks, birds, and mice.
These nuts are also eaten by humans. The wood of the pignut hickory is hard and strong, making it ideal for use in furniture and flooring.
2. Shagbark Hickory
The shagbark hickory is a type of hickory tree that is native to Michigan. This tree is characterized by its shaggy bark, which is why it is named the shagbark hickory.
The shagbark hickory is a large tree that can grow up to 100 feet tall and 3 feet in diameter.
This tree is an important food source for many animals, including deer, squirrels, and birds. The nuts of the shagbark hickory are also edible for humans and are often used in baking.
The shagbark hickory is a beautiful tree that is well-known for its shaggy bark. This bark is made up of long, thin strips that hang down from the branches of the tree.
The shagbark hickory is a very large tree and can grow up to 100 feet tall and 3 feet in diameter. This tree is an important food source for many animals, including deer, squirrels, and birds.
The nuts of the shagbark hickory are also edible for humans and are often used in baking.
3. Bitternut Hickory
The bitternut hickory is a type of hickory tree that is native to Michigan. This tree is known for its strong, hard wood that is often used in construction and furniture making.
The bitternut hickory is also a popular choice for firewood due to its high heat output.
This hickory tree grows to a height of 50-60 feet and has a trunk diameter of 1-2 feet.
The bitternut hickory’s leaves are alternate, simple and pinnately compound with 7-17 leaflets.
The leaflets are oblong-shaped and have serrated edges. The bitternut hickory’s fruit is a nut that is enclosed in a thick, hard shell.
The bitternut hickory is found in moist, well-drained soils in mixed forests. This tree prefers full sun but can tolerate some shade. The bitternut hickory is not tolerant of salt or drought conditions.
This tree is susceptible to a number of pests and diseases, including scale insects, caterpillars, leaf miners, borers, and canker fungi.
4. Shellbark Hickory
Shellbark hickory trees are a type of hickory tree that is native to Michigan. These trees are known for their large size and their hard, durable wood. Shellbark hickories are often used for lumber and firewood, as they are very good at both roles.
These trees can grow to be quite large, reaching heights of up to 100 feet tall. The shellbark hickory’s trunk is also very thick, with a diameter of up to 3 feet wide.
The bark of these trees is dark brown or black in color, and is very rough and scaly. The leaves of the shellbark hickory are large, and have 7-9 lobes.
The flowers of these trees are small and greenish-yellow in color, and the fruits are small nuts that are encased in a thick husk.
The wood of the shellbark hickory is very strong and dense, making it ideal for use in construction and other projects where durability is important.
This wood is also very good at holding up against rot and decay, making it a good choice for use in outdoor settings.
Shellbark hickory wood is also prized for its ability to produce a high-quality charcoal when burned.
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