What is the origin of the word hickory?
The word hickory enters English from a Native American language, likely Powhatan. It shortens terms like pockerchicory or pocohicora which might name the tree's nut itself.
Questions about Hickory
Short answers, pulled from the story.
When did the genus hickory first appear in fossil records?
Modern trees first appear in Oligocene strata 34 million years ago. Cretaceous pollen grains found in Mexico and New Mexico represent the oldest evidence for this genus.
How many species are currently accepted within the genus hickory?
Plants of the World Online accepts nineteen accepted species within the genus. Seven species grow native to southeast Asia including China and Indochina while twelve remain native to North America.
Which insects feed on hickory leaves as a food source?
Lepidoptera larvae use hickory leaves as a food source for their survival. Luna moths and brown-tail moths feed on the foliage while regal moth caterpillars known as hickory horn-devils consume the leaves.
What nutritional value do dried hickory nuts provide?
Dried hickory nuts contain 64% fats and 13% protein. They supply significant food energy with 20% or more daily value of manganese.
Why is hickory wood preferred for tool handles and baseball bats?
Hickory wood combines strength, toughness, hardness, and stiffness uniquely among commercial woods. Tool handles and wheel spokes require this specific combination of properties before ash took over for baseball bats.