How to Identify and Classify Hickory Trees
  • 1. What leaf arrangement is typical for hickory trees?
A) Whorled
B) Alternate
C) Opposite
D) Subopposite
  • 2. Hickory trees belong to what plant family?
A) Juglandaceae
B) Betulaceae
C) Fagaceae
D) Aceraceae
  • 3. What is the most distinctive feature for initial hickory identification?
A) Simple leaves
B) Compound leaves
C) Scale-like leaves
D) Needle-like leaves
  • 4. What type of fruit do hickory trees produce?
A) Acorns
B) Berries
C) Samaras
D) Nuts
  • 5. Which hickory species has shaggy bark?
A) Pignut Hickory
B) Mockernut Hickory
C) Bitternut Hickory
D) Shagbark Hickory
  • 6. What is the typical number of leaflets on a Shagbark Hickory leaf?
A) 9-11
B) 3
C) 7-9
D) 5
  • 7. Which hickory is known for its relatively smooth bark when young?
A) Shagbark Hickory
B) Pignut Hickory
C) Red Hickory
D) Shellbark Hickory
  • 8. What does 'pignut' refer to in Pignut Hickory's name?
A) Size of the nut
B) Color of the nut
C) Unpalatable nut
D) Shape of the nut
  • 9. Which hickory has buds that are a distinct sulfur-yellow color?
A) Pecan
B) Bitternut Hickory
C) Mockernut Hickory
D) Shellbark Hickory
  • 10. How many leaflets are typically found on a Bitternut Hickory leaf?
A) 7-11
B) 3
C) 5
D) 9-13
  • 11. What is a key characteristic of Mockernut Hickory's nut husk?
A) Scaly husk
B) Winged husk
C) Thick husk
D) Thin husk
  • 12. Which hickory is known for having the largest nuts?
A) Pignut Hickory
B) Shellbark Hickory
C) Bitternut Hickory
D) Mockernut Hickory
  • 13. Shellbark Hickory typically has how many leaflets?
A) 7-9
B) 9-11
C) 3
D) 5
  • 14. Which hickory is commonly cultivated for its edible nuts?
A) Pignut Hickory
B) Bitternut Hickory
C) Pecan
D) Shagbark Hickory
  • 15. Pecan leaves usually have how many leaflets?
A) 5-7
B) 9-17
C) 3-5
D) 7-9
  • 16. What is a defining characteristic of pecan bark on mature trees?
A) Deeply furrowed
B) Shaggy
C) Papery peeling
D) Smooth
  • 17. Where are hickory trees typically found?
A) Western North America
B) Australia
C) Eastern North America
D) Europe
  • 18. What is the primary use of hickory wood?
A) Tool handles
B) Paper production
C) Fuelwood only
D) Furniture (softwoods)
  • 19. What type of soil do hickories generally prefer?
A) Salty
B) Well-drained
C) Compacted clay
D) Poorly drained
  • 20. What is the shape of a Pignut Hickory nut?
A) Square
B) Oblong
C) Round
D) Pear-shaped
  • 21. How can you distinguish between Shagbark and Shellbark Hickory bark?
A) Shagbark has smaller, tighter plates.
B) Shellbark has no fissures
C) Shellbark is smooth
D) Shagbark has no peeling bark
  • 22. Bitternut Hickory nuts are known for their:
A) No taste
B) Sweet taste
C) Salty taste
D) Bitter taste
  • 23. What is the texture of a Mockernut Hickory nut's shell?
A) Smooth and waxy
B) Soft and fleshy
C) Thin and papery
D) Hard and thick
  • 24. What is the typical lifespan of a hickory tree?
A) 500+ years
B) 10-20 years
C) 200-300 years
D) 50-100 years
  • 25. Which of these is NOT a characteristic used for hickory identification?
A) Bark texture
B) Leaflet number
C) Flower color
D) Nut shape
  • 26. What is the role of hickories in the ecosystem?
A) Nitrogen fixation
B) Primary source of lumber
C) Wildlife food source
D) Erosion control
  • 27. What causes the 'shag' on a Shagbark Hickory?
A) Exfoliating bark
B) Moss growth
C) Insect damage
D) Fungal infection
  • 28. What is a common pest of hickory trees?
A) Spruce Budworm
B) Emerald Ash Borer
C) Hickory Shuckworm
D) Gypsy Moth
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