Shellbark Hickory
(Wide & Flat: Alternate Arrangement) |
Also known as Kingnut hickory, this species is found on moist to wet, fertile
bottomlands across southern Pennsylvania. The nuts are much in demand by man and
wildlife. As with other hickories, the wood is very heavy, hard, and strong with
very high shock resistance, and is principally used for tool handles. |
Carya laciniosa (Michx.f.) Loud
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| Leaves |
| Alternate, compound, 10"-24" long, usually with
7 leaflets, dark green above, paler yellow green and hairy beneath, margins fine-toothed.
The dried leaf axis, (petiole), often persisting on the tree all winter. |
| Twigs |
| Orange-brown, usually hairy and often angled with numerous
orange lenticels, somewhat stouter than Shagbark
hickory and with orange colored leaf scars. The very large buds have 6 to
8 dark brown loosely fitting, keeled outer scales, end buds 3/4" - 1"
long. |
| Fruit |
| Largest of the native hickories, 1¾" - 2½"
long with a thick husk splitting into four pieces when ripe. The thick-shelled
nut yellowish white to reddish brown, 4 to 6 ridged, pointed at both ends and
containing a sweet kernel. |
| Bark |
| Closely resembles that of Shagbark hickory but with straighter,
tighter plates and appearing less shaggy. |
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