52 



Common Trees 



SHELLBARK HICKORY 



Carya ovata, (Millet) K. Koch 



THE SHELLBARK Hickory, also called Shagbark Hickory, 

 is the best known of all the hickories. It produces the 

 best nuts and has the most distinctive features of all the native 

 hickories. 



The leaves ajre alternate, 8 to 14 inches long, compound, 

 with 5 to 7 leaflets. 

 The three upper leaf- 

 lets are the largest, 

 the pair nearest the 

 base is usually only 

 about one-half the 

 size of the terminal 

 ones. 



The flowers are 

 similar to those of 

 the other hickories. 



The fruit is round, 

 1 to 2 inches long, 

 with husk that splits 

 into 4 sections from 

 apex to base. The 

 nuts are smooth, 

 white, 4 - angled, 

 pointed at the ends. 

 The kernel is large 

 and sweet. 



The bark is smooth 

 and light gray on 

 young stems. On old 

 trunks it becomes dis- 

 tinctly shaggy. The 

 twigs are reddish- 

 brown to gray, covered with numerous light dots, usually 

 smooth, sometimes hairy. The buds are egg-shaped, blunt- 

 pointed, about three-fifths of an inch long, covered with 

 about 10 bud-scales. 



The wood is very heavy, hard, strong, tough, elastic, close- 

 grained. Used chiefly for handles and vehicles. 



The Shellbark Hickory is found from Quebec to Minne- 

 sota, south to Florida and Texas. In New York this tree 

 is common in most sections of the State outside of the Adi- 

 rondacks and the higher Catskills. Not reported from the 

 pine barrens of Long Island. This tree, usually reaching 

 a height of 50 to 75 feet and a diameter of 2 feet, should be 

 carefully protected. It is the largest of the true hickories. 



SHELLBARK HICKORY 



One-fourth natural size, except 7 which is natural 



size and 8 slightly enlarged. 



