SHELLBARK HICKORY - Carya laciniosa, Michx., Loud
EDWIN JAMES, A BOTANIST and geologist with the Long Expedition of 1819, noted various tree species during his travels through Missouri. Among these, he mentioned the Bottom of Big Shellbark Hickory. In many locations in the state, shellbark hickory truly grows to be a giant among trees. Although it grows over most of the state, it is ordinarily not found in the Ozark region. It grows over most of the state, it is ordinarily not found in the Ozark region. It grows on deep, rich soils along rivers and smaller permanent watercourses. Shellbark hickory can often be found growing along with bur and pin oak, cottonwood, green ash, silver maple, and American elm.
The leaf is compound, borne alternate and is one to two feet long. The number of leaflets range from 7 to 9, each 5 to 9 inches long and 3 to 5 inches wide. The top leaflet is usually widest. They are finely toothed and are dark green and smooth above and pale yellow-green and velvety beneath.
The large nut ranges from 1 to 2 1/2 inches in diameter with the husk being up to 1/2 inch thick. It is oblong and somewhat flattened, with four prominent ridges. Because the kernel is large and sweet, it makes fine eating as well as furnishing a source of food for squirrels and other wildlife.
Shellbark has the largest leaves and fruit of all the hickories. Early settlers used this tree as an indicator of good soil. Because of land cleared for agriculture, shellbark has become relatively scarce.
Twigs are stout, orange-brown and are usually densely hairy. There are light spots scattered over the young bark. Buds at the end of the twigs are elliptically shaped, covered by several loose brown scales. Bark on the mature tree is gray with broad loose plates forming a shaggy appearance. The bark very much resembles that of shagbark
