Hickories
Carya carolinae-septentrionalis

C. carolinae-septentrionalis (Ashe) Engl. & Graebn.
Southern Shagbark Hickory

Southern shagbark hickory is considered by some to be merely a variety of C. ovata, rather than an independent species. Detailed study of the two taxa has been conducted by Gibbon (1972). He found C. ovata to be associated with more acid soils, having a thicker surface horizon and coarser texture than C. carolinae-septentrionalis. Southern shagbark was found on soils formed from basic parent materials which were higher in calcium. This constitutes a level of ecological adaptation, one of the criteria of species status. The two taxa can be distinguished morphologically using the criteria given in the discussion of C. ovata. As in the other undisputed species, reproductive isolation has not been fully evaluated, but is implied by the occurrence of both types of trees in sympatric populations, despite the occurrence of occassional intermediates which are evidently hybrids. The distribution of the species is provided (distribution map).

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