Mystery Tree in Southern Michigan

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aquilusdomini Jackson, MI Jun 10, 2011

This tree is a bit of a mystery, it grows amongst Box Elders, Maples, Elms, and Mulberries. It's origin is a bit baffling too, we believe it may be a Walnut tree, but we're doubting it because the nearest walnut tree is all the way down the street but it is possible i suppose (thanks to squirrels). The leaves are huge about 4-5 inches long, it's branches are oddly twiggy and it grows straight up (no twists, no turns, no knots). The bark is greyish and doesn't appear thick though this tree does still look quite young, so perhaps that's why the bark isn't thick looking. I'm sending along 3 other pictures to help in the identification process...

if anyone knows that type of tree this is, i'd appreciate your help :)

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aquilusdomini Jackson, MI Jun 10, 2011

the trunk

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aquilusdomini Jackson, MI Jun 10, 2011

the twiggy branches

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aquilusdomini Jackson, MI Jun 10, 2011

and another picture of the leaves

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ViburnumValley Scott County, KY(Zone 5b) Jun 11, 2011

That is some sort of Hickory.

You would do us all a favor by collecting a branch to take pictures of while it is sitting still.

Lay it on a sidewalk, or table, or some place with a neutral background where you can get a photo with good focus.

Post pictures of the buds at the base of where the leaves attach to the branch, pictures of the tops of the compound leaves and the undersides of the compound leaves.

Here are some PlantFiles entries for Carya species to peruse...

http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/adv_search.php?searcher%5Bcommon%5D=&searcher%5Bfamily%5D=&searcher%5Bgenus%5D=carya&searcher%5Bspecies%5D=&searcher%5Bcultivar%5D=&searcher%5Bhybridizer%5D=&searcher%5Bgrex%5D=&search_prefs%5Bblank_cultivar%5D=&search_prefs%5Bsort_by%5D=genus&images_prefs=both&Search=Search

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aquilusdomini Jackson, MI Jun 12, 2011

a hickory...well that's a pleasant surprise :) i'll send in more pictures with better quality later today (6/13/11). and now i'm off to go through the Plant Files...

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TheExpertVGL melbourne, Australia Nov 11, 2011

Its good that you must consult to some one who is deeply into this matter.

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NRez Austin, TX May 22, 2012

Not to confuse the issue but your pictures look exactly like a young pecan tree in my backyard. I'm guessing yours is about 4-5 years old. Within the next couple of years, you should see heavier bark develop. My tree is about 5 years old and has not had pecans yet.

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gardenworm2 Standish, MI May 23, 2012

NRez is partially right. The Pecan belongs to the same family as the Hickory but will not survive in MIchigan. What you probably have is either the Shellbark hickory or the Shagbark hickory both of which are common to your area of Michigan. It could also be the Bitternut hickory but I doubt that it is this one because of the leaf arrangement.

I hope this helps.

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