Trees of New York State 147 



JUGLANDACEAE 



Cary;i hiciniosa (Miclix. f.) Laud. | Hicoria laciniosa Sarg. ; Oarva sulcata 



Xut.t. 1 



Big Shellbark, Kingnut 



Habit-- Similar in gross features tu the Wiuigbark lliekory. A tree 50-90 feet 

 in hoigiit with a trunk diameter of 2-3 feet, occasionally 120 feet tall. 

 Crown narrowly oblong to subovoid, consisting of rather short lateral 

 branches, which extend in the open to \\-ithin 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 3 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, paler and soft pubescent below. 



Flowers — Appearing in ^lay 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 base of the growth of the season, 

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

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

 tomentose Avithout, 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-eelled ovary surmounted 

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

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



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

 least above the middle, at maturity light orange to pale 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-ridged or angled, w'ith large, light brown, sweet kernel. 



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

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

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

 Terminal bud ovate, dark brown, %— 1 inch long, the outer scales rather 

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

 at the apex. Lateral buds much smaller. Mature bark light gray, 1-2 

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

 for a number of years giA'ing the trunk a shaggy a.ppearance. 



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

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

 fertile uplands. 



Kange — 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. 



