MASSACHUSETTS FOREST TREES 



SHAGBARK (Hicoria ovata Britton) 



GROWING in rich, deep soil near streams and on 

 fertile hillsides, the Shagbark is of common occur- 

 rence throughout the State. 



The tallest of the Hickories, it has the characteristic 

 habit of the group, a tapering trunk destitute of 

 branches for a considerable distance and a cylindrical 

 head of relatively narrow spread. Usually it attains a 

 height of fifty to seventy-five feet and a trunk diam- 

 eter not exceeding two feet. 



The bark on the trunk is light gray, sep- 

 arating into thick plates often a foot long. 

 When these are only slightly attached, they 

 give to 

 the trunk 

 a shaggy 

 appear- 

 ance in 

 which is 

 the sig- 

 nificance 

 of the 

 popular 

 term 

 Shagbark 

 Hickory. 



The leaves are 

 alternate, com- 

 pound, from eight 

 to fifteen inches 

 lon*g and com- 

 posed of five, 

 rarely seven leaflets. The fruit is borne singly or in 

 pairs and is globular. The husk is deeply grooved at 

 the seams. The kernel is sweet. 



The wood is heavy, hard, tough and very strong. It 

 is used largely in the manufacture of agricultural imple- 

 ments and in the building of carriages and wagons. 

 For fuel it is the most satisfactory of our native trees. 

 The nut is a valued article of commerce. 



SHAGBARK HICKORY SHAGBARK 



Leaf and young fruit. One-third 

 natural size. 



Winter twig. 

 One-half size. 



