ITandbook of Tkep;s or the Nokt 



The Shag-bark Hickory is an important 

 forest tree occasionally attaining or even sur- 

 passing the height of 100 ft., with straight 

 columnar trunk 2-3 ft. in diameter vested in a 

 singular gray bark. This exfoliates in long 

 hard plate-like strips, \\liich. hanging long at- 

 tached at their upper ends, suggest an ap- 

 pearance of sliagginess; hence its name. When 

 growing apart from other trees it develops an 

 oblong or obovoid top with strong graceful 

 upright branches, pendent lower branches and 

 clean handsome foliage. It thrives best on low 

 hill-sides and along the banks of streams 

 where it is commonly associated with the Bass- 

 wood, ilaples, Cottonwood, Oaks, other Hick- 

 ories, etc. 



The wood of this tree is hard, strong and 

 tough, a cubic foot when absolutely dry weigh- 

 ing 52.17 lbs., and is liighly valued for tool- 

 handles, agricultural implements, baskets, for 

 fuel, etc., and it is this tree which yields the 

 common snuiU hickory nuts of commerce. = 



Leaves S-20 in. Ions, with rather stout, petioles 

 and 5 (rarelv 7 I leaflets wliich are ovate-lance- 

 olate to obovate, ratbcT cimeate and unequal at 

 base, acuminate, serrate, tbiek and firm, dark green 

 above, paler beneath ; bud-s.ales imbricated, the 

 inner ones accrescent. l-'loin m in May; stami- 

 nate 4-5 in. long, in glandular-bairy anients : 

 middle lobe of calyx narrow and much longer than 

 the rounded lateral lobes; stamens 4; pistillate in 

 2-."i-flowered spikes, rusty-tonientose. Fniit ^-'> 

 together, 1-2 >/> in. long, subglobose, depressed at 

 apex, with thfck husk splitting soon to the base ; 

 nut whitish, compressed, more or less 4-angled, 

 %-l in. long; seed with rich delicious flavor. 



1. Syn. (Jcinjii alia Nutt. 



2. A. W., II, 36. 



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