﻿Trees of New York mate 147 



JUGLANDACEAE 



C'arya lax'Jniosa (Michx. f.) Laud. [Ilieoria la(;iriioHa Sarj^. ; ('arya Mulcata 



Nutt.J 



Big Shellbark, Kingnut 



Habit — Similar in ((lo.ss fciituics to tlic Sliaj^lKuk IJifkory. A tree 50 90 feet 

 in lieight with a trunk diameter of 2-3 feet, m-eaHiorially 120 feet tall. 

 Crown narrowly oblonj^ to subovoid, eongisting of rather short lateral 

 branches, which extend in the open to within 8-10 feet of the {ground. 

 Lower branches pendulous. Under forest conditions the bole is tall, 

 straight, and columnar and often free of branches for half its length, 

 bearing aloft a reduced crown. 



Leaves — ^ Alternate, odd pinnately compound, 15-22 inches long, usually con- 

 sisting of 7 (5-9) sessile or nearly sessile leaflets arranged in pairs along 

 a stout, glabrous or pubescent, flattened, grooved petiole, the lower pairs 

 the smaller and the terminal leaflet narrowed into a stalk. Leaflets ovate 

 to oblong-lanceolate, the 8 upper usually obovate, 4-9 inches long, acumi- 

 nate at the apex, rounded and inequilateral at the base, ciliate and finely 

 serrate except near the base, at maturity thin, firm, dark green and 

 somewhat lustrous above, j»aler and soft pubescent below. 



Flowers — Api)earing in May and early June after the unfolding of the leaves, 

 monoecious, the staminate in slender, light green, drooping catkins 5-S 

 inches long which are borne in pedunculate clusters of 3 on the growth 

 of the preceding season, rarely at the Vjase of the growth of the season, 

 the pistillate in terminal, 2-5-flowered spikes capping the growth of the 

 season, the two sorts proximal. Btaminate flowers pedicellate, rufous- 

 tomentose without, about ^^ of an inch long, consisting of a linear- 

 lanceolate, acute bract and 2 rounded calyx-lobes bearing adaxilly 3-5 sta- 

 mens. Anthers yellow, nearly sessile. Pistillate flowers about % of 

 an inch long, sessile, consisting of an inferior, 1-celled ovary surmounted 

 by 2 sessile, spreading, pale green, papillate stigmas. The ovary is 

 invested by the perianth-like, cohering, pale tomentose involucre. 



Fruit — Ellipsoid, ovoid, or subgloboso, l%-2i/{; inches long, 4-channeled at 

 least above the middle, at maturity light orange to yiale chestnut-brown, 

 glabrous or pubescent, orange-lenticellate. Husk thick, splitting to the 

 base. Nut dull white or yellowish, thick-shelled, usually ellipsoidal but 

 very variable, 4-rJdged or angled, with large, light brown, sweet kernel. 



Winter characters — Twigs stout, orange-lenticellate, usually somewhat 

 pubescent, orange-brown turning to ashy gray the second winter. Leaf- 

 scars slightly elevated, inversely triangular, the upper margin indented. 

 Terminal bud ovate, dark brown, •%-] inch long, the outer scales rather 

 loose and pubescent on the outer surface and often keeled and long pointed 

 at the ajiex. Lateral buds much smaller. Mature V>ark light gray, 1-2 

 inches thick, separating into broad, thick plates which persist on the tree 

 for a number of years giving the trunk a shaggy appearance. 



Habitat — Distinctly a bottom-land tree, preferring wet but rich soils which 

 are often inundated for several months in the spring. Occasional on 

 fertile uplands. 



Range — -Central New York and Pennsylvania, west to eastern Nebraska, 

 south to Tennessee, northern Arkansas and Oklahoma. Zone B. 



Uses — Among the most valuable of the hickories as a source of timber. "Wood 

 similar to that of Shagbark Hickory and usually not distinguished in the 

 trade. Nuts often found in the eastern markets, larger than those of the 

 Shagbark but not as finely flavored. 



