Life History & Disturbance Response of Carya tomentosa mockernut hickory

Family: Juglandaceae
Guild: persistent, large-seeded, advance growth dependent
Functional Lifeform: medium-size to large deciduous tree
Ecological Role: hickories occur in widely different habitats from moist flats to dry uplands; many withstand suppression and respond well if released; mature trees provide mast for wildlife
Lifespan, yrs (typical/max): 175-200/200-300
Shade Tolerance: intermediate to tolerant
Height, m: 15-25
Canopy Tree: yes
Pollination Agent: wind
Seeding, yrs (begins/optimal/declines): 25-30/50-75/200 Mast Frequency, yrs: 1-5, varies with species
New Cohorts Source: seeds or sprouts
Flowering Dates: late spring
Flowers/Cones Damaged by Frost: yes
Seedfall Begins: early fall
Seed Banking: up to 1 yr
Cold Stratification Required: yes
Seed Type/Dispersal Distance/Agent: nut/ to 50 m/ gravity, small mammals, birds or water
Season of Germination: spring
Seedling Rooting System: taproot
Sprouting: stump sprouts and root suckers common
Establishment Seedbed Preferences
Substrate: variable, litter covered
Light: overstory shade
Moisture: moist required
Temperature: neutral
Disturbance response::
Fire: Hickories generally increase at fire intervals of several decades or more, but when fires occur at short intervals Quercus species have a competitive advantage over Carya. Many hickories are broadly distributed and grow on a wide range of site types. Fires are probably unusual on mesic sites and usually occur during prolonged droughts. On drier sites, fires tend to be low- to moderate- intensity surface fires, occurring in the dormant season. Longer-interval fires may promote hickory abundance. A thin-barked genus, hickories of all sizes are generally susceptible to topkilling. Seedlings are particularly sensitive but larger, thicker-barked trees are more resistant. When topkilled, hickories sprout from the root crown, stump, or root suckers. Hickories are susceptible to rot where the stem has been wounded. Seedling establishment may occur from surviving trees onsite or from offsite seeds carried by wind, water, birds, and other animals. Released hickory trees may develop a large crown and abundant nut crops, an important food source for wildlife.
Weather: Most hickories are windfirm.