Common Name: Mockernut

General Information

Carya tomentosa is a deciduous tree with a long, narrow, dense crown; it usually grows around 15 - 24 metres tall, though it can reach up to 36 metres, with a bole ranging from 46 - 60cm, exceptionally to 90cml379, ].
The plant is harvested from the wild for local use as a food, medicine and source of materials. It produces an excellent timber and is harvesed on a commercial basis from the wild.
Carya tomentosa has a large, stable population which is found across an extensive range. There are no known major threats. The plant is classified as 'Least Concern' in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species(2018)[].

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

, ,

Range

Eastern and central southern N. America - Iowa to southern Ontario and New York, south to Texas and Florida

Habitat

Well-drained sandy soils, rolling hills and rocky hillsides, occasionally on limestone outcrops; at elevations up to 900 metres[]. Mainly along ridges, dry hills and hillsides, growing best in rich well-drained soils[].

Properties

Conservation Status	Least Concern
Edibility Rating
Medicinal Rating
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Deciduous Tree
Height	30.00 m
Growth Rate	Medium
Pollinators	Wind
Self-fertile	Yes
Cultivation Status	Wild

Cultivation Details

The climate where Carya tomentosa grows is usually humid. Within its range the mean annual precipitation ranges from 890mm in the north to 2,030mm in the south, with around 510 - 890mm occurring during the growing season. About 2,000mm of annual snowfall is common in the north, but it seldom snows in the south. Across its range, mean annual temperatures vary from 10° - 21°c, with summer temperatures around 21° - 27°c, falling in winter to between minus -7° to plus 16°c. Temperature extremes are fromwell above 38°c to less than minus 18°c. The growing season is approximately 160 days in the north of the range and up to 320 days in the south[].
Prefers a deep moisture-retentive loam in a sunny sheltered position, requiring a good summer for best development[, , , ]. Succeeds in poor soils[] and in drier soils than many other members of the genus[]. Generally a slow growing tree[] though it is fast when young[].
Trees respond well to coppicing, sprouting vigorously from the stump and the roots[]. As the stumps increase in size and age, however, the number of stumps that produce sprouts decreases[].
A very ornamental and long-lived tree with specimens 500 years or more old[], it is quite successful in Britain[] and has been planted on an experimental scale for its timber in Germany[].
Most species in this genus have quite a wide range of distribution and, in order to find trees more suited to a particular climate, seed from the most appropriate provenances should be sought[]. Most trees growing in Britain at present tend to only produce good seed after hot summers[].
Trees in the wild commence fruiting when about 20 years old, with an optimum seed bearing age from 40 - 150 years, though they often live for 300 - 500 years[].
Trees are self-fertile but larger crops of better quality seeds are produced if cross-pollination takes place[].
Plants are strongly tap-rooted and should be planted in their permanent positions as soon as possible[, ]. Sowing in situ would be the best method so long as the seed could be protected from mice[, ].
Plants in this genus are notably resistant to honey fungus[].

Edible Uses

Seed - raw or cooked[, , , ]. A delicious sweet taste but the thick, hard shell makes extraction very difficult[, , ]. The kernel is quite small considering the size of the nut[]. Even squirrels leave the seed to accumulate under trees[, ]. The seed can be up to 6cm long[]. The seed ripens in late autumn and, when stored in its shell in a cool place, will keep for at least 6 months[].

Sap - used as a drink. Tapped in spring, it has a sweet flavour[].

Medicinal

The inner bark is astringent and detergent[]. It has been used as a dressing for cuts and has also been chewed to treat sore mouths[].

Agroforestry Uses:

Trees are late coming into leaf (usually in late spring to early summer) and they lose their leaves early in the autumn (usually in October)[]. Whilst in leaf they cast a heavy shade. These factors combine to make the trees eminently suitable for a mixed woodland planting with shrubs and other trees beneath them[].
The species is planted for watershed protection[].

Other Uses

A black dye is obtained by boiling the bark in a vinegar solution[].
A beige dye is extracted from the leaves and twigs, cream of tartar is required as a mordant[].
A yellow dye is obtained from the bark when alum is used as a mordant[].

The inner bark has been used to finish baskets and to make chair bottoms[].

The leaves have been scattered about to repel insects[].

Wood - close-grained, tough, elastic, very heavy, hard[, , , ]. It weighs 51lb per cubic foot[]. The wood has excellent bending qualities and can withstand compression better than most other woods[]. One of the best hickory woods, it is an important commercial timber and is used for vehicle parts, tool handles etc[, , , , ].
The wood makes an excellent fuel and is used to make a good quality charcoal[].

Propagation

Seed - requires a period of cold stratification. It is best sown in a cold frame as soon as it is ripe[]. Stored seed should be kept moist (but not wet) prior to sowing and should be sown in a cold frame as soon as possible[]. Where possible, sow 1 or 2 seeds only in each deep pot and thin to the best seedling. If you need to transplant the seedlings, then do this as soon as they are large enough to handle, once more using deep pots to accommodate the tap root. Put the plants into their permanent positions as soon as possible, preferably in their first summer, and give them some protection from the cold for at least the first winter[, ]. Seed can also be sown in situ so long as protection is given from mice etc and the seed is given some protection from cold[] (a plastic bottle with the top and bottom removed and a wire mesh top fitted to keep the mice out is ideal)