Handbook of Trees oe the Noetheen- States and Canada. 



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, whieli, hanging long at- 

 tached at their upper ends, suggest an ap- 

 pearance of shagginess; 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, Maples, 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 highly valued for tool- 

 handles, agricultural implements, baskets, for 

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

 common small hickory nuts of commerce. - 



Leaves 8-20 in. long, with rather stout petioles 

 and .5 (rarely 7) leaflets which are ovate-lance- 

 olate to obovate, rather cimeate and uneiiual at 

 base, acuminate, serrate, thicl5 and firm, dark green 

 above, paler beneath : bud-scales imbricated, the 

 inner ones accrescent. Flowers in May : starai- 

 nate 4-5 in. long, in glandular-hairy aments ; 

 middle lobe of calyx narrow and much longer than 

 the rounded lateral lobes; .stamens 4; pistillate in 

 2-5-fiowered spike's, rusty-tomentose. Fruit 1-8 

 together, 1-2% in. long, subglobose, depressed at 

 apex, with tliick husk splitting soon to the base ; 

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

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



1. yyn. Cnypii alhn Null. 



2. .A. \V.. 11. :;Ci. 



