SafePlants

Louisiana Hickory (Carya × ludoviciana)

Taxonomy and Nomenclature

• Scientific Name: Carya × ludoviciana (Ashe) Little
• Common Name: Louisiana Hickory, Hickory
• Family: Juglandaceae (Walnut Family)
• Kingdom: Plantae (Plants)
• Taxonomic Status: Accepted
• Synonyms and Related Species:
  • Carya aquatica (F. Michx.) Elliott
  • Carya cordiformis (Wangenh.) K. Koch
  • Carya floridana Sarg.
  • Carya glabra (Mill.) Sweet

Naming History

• Carya × ludoviciana was validly published by William Willard Ashe.
• Elbert Luther Little formally recognized the species.

Hybrid Status

• Carya × ludoviciana is a recognized hybrid between Carya aquatica and Carya texana.
• Some consider this hybrid to be a variety of Carya texana.

Distribution and Habitat

• Carya aquatica, one of the parent species, is a major constituent of clay flats.
• The American Midland Naturalist journal often covers the natural history of prairie states where hickories are found.

Morphological Characteristics

• Carya aquatica is a deciduous tree growing up to 20 meters (65 feet 7 inches).

Related Species

• Mentioned alongside other Carya species such as:
  • Carya alba (mockernut hickory)
  • Carya aquatica (water hickory)
  • Carya carolinae-septentrionalis (southern shagbark hickory)
  • Carya cordiformis (Bitternut Hickory)
  • Carya glabra (Pignut Hickory)
  • Carya illinoinensis
  • Carya laciniosa (Shellbark Hickory)
  • Carya ovata (Shagbark Hickory)
  • Carya texana

Further Information

• USDA, ARS, Germplasm Resources Information Network (GRIN)
• ITIS (Integrated Taxonomic Information System): TSN 19238
• The Plant List
• IPNI (International Plant Names Index)
• Australian Plant Name Index
• NYBG (New York Botanical Garden) Virtual Herbarium
• Encyclopedia of Life
• PLANTS Database (USDA-NRCS)
• PlantSystematics.org
• PhytoImages.siu.edu
• DiversityOfLife.org
• Gymnosperms.org