This poorly understood taxon may generally have resulted from hybridization of glabra and ovata, but it is widely reported from across eastern states (PL, W) and sometimes treated as a species (e.g. in Mo.). Yet FNA 3 and K have included ovalis within a broadly defined, variable glabra, within which no segregates were recognized. In Ky. ovalis is genrally infrequent but locally more common than the supposed parents: e.g. on Cumberland Mt. in BELL and perhaps other relatively cool zones of the state. NatureServe has described some Appalachian forest types where ovalis is locally codominant with Quercus rubra, Q. alba or Q. montana, mostly in the Ridge and Valley region and adjacent mountains to east or west (NS: CEGLs 7233, 8514, 8515, 8517). C. ovalis has been described (F, Cr, W) as differing from glabra in its somewhat scaly or shaggy bark (versus non-shaggy); longer staminate catkins (ca. 10-15 cm, as in ovata, versus 5-8 cm); fruits of intermediate size and usually ellipsoidal (versus ellipsoidal, pyriform or globose), with light brown husk that splits to base, often slightly winged along sutures, and with sweet kernel (versus dark brown, closed or tardily splitting, typically not winged, and sweetish or somewhat bitter). Less definitive characters are leaflet number (reported as usually 7 by most authors but often 5 in Ky.), pubescence (more persistently hairy or scurfy), and perhaps reddish petioles. But "ovalis" reportedly (Cr) includes diploids (2n = 32) as in laciniosa, ovata and carolinae-septentrionalis, plus tetraploids (2n = 64) as in tomentosa, glabra, pallida and texana. There has not yet been a thorough molecular analysis of ovalis, although in an initial study with only one sample per species, Zhang et al. (2013) indicated that "ovalis" is closest to tomentosa not glabra. It is possible that at least two distinct taxa have been called ovalis, perhaps with different ploidies and different hybrid origins. Some "ovalis" trees may represent F1 hybrids between glabra and various species; others may be closer to glabra, perhaps with backcrossing. For Carya in general, FNA 3 stated: "artificial pollinations suggest that even diploid × tetraploid crosses produce viable seed". The current state champion was documented by J. Scheff from Beaver Creek Wilderness in MCRE (KDF 2000): 98 cm dbh, 44 m tall, 20 m wide. However, a much larger tree has been recently reported by J. Scheff (pers. comm.) from LESL: 147 cm dbh, 50 m tall. Both of these trees appear to be larger than the official national champion (americanforests.org).