Carya

Carya

Carya (pronounced as /ˈkæriə/), also known as Hickory, is a genus of deciduous trees belonging to the walnut family, Juglandaceae. The term "Carya" is derived from the Ancient Greek word κάρυον (káryon), meaning "nut".

Description

The genus Carya includes around 17 to 19 species of trees native to North America, Central America, Asia, and South America. They are large trees, typically reaching heights of 20–40 m tall and a trunk diameter of up to 2 m. The leaves are pinnately compound, typically with five to nine leaflets.

Uses

The wood of Carya species is used for a variety of purposes, including fuel, furniture, tools, and sports equipment. The nuts of some species are edible and used in cooking or eaten raw.

Species

Some of the notable species of Carya include:

• Carya illinoinensis (Pecan)
• Carya ovata (Shagbark Hickory)
• Carya laciniosa (Shellbark Hickory)
• Carya tomentosa (Mockernut Hickory)
• Carya glabra (Pignut Hickory)

Related Terms

• Juglandaceae: The walnut family, to which Carya belongs.
• Deciduous: Trees that shed their leaves annually.
• Genus: A rank in the biological classification (taxonomy) that groups closely related species together.

This WikiMD.org article is a stub. You can help make it a full article.