Synonyms: Hicoria laciniosa (Michx. f.) Sarg.

Description: Tree, 18 - 25 m tall, trunk 0.36 - 0.8 m in diameter. Bark dark gray, smooth, developing narrow, 1 - 1.2 m long strips that curl on lower or both ends. Twigs stout, orange-tan with orange, corky, raised spots (lenticels), hairy when young. Terminal bud 2 - 3 cm long, egg-shaped, tan to dark brown; outer scales curl out slightly, inner scales yellow to purplish and hairy. Lateral buds are smaller. Leaves alternate, odd-pinnately compound, 25 - 60 cm long, usually with 7 leaflets. Leaflets 9 - 25 cm long, 5 - 12 cm wide, terminal leaflet usually largest, elliptic to egg-shaped or widest above the middle, margins finely toothed, shiny dark green above, pale yellow-green with soft hairs below. Foliage is aromatic when crushed. Male and female flowers on same tree (monoecious), male flowers in clusters of 3 hanging catkins, 12 - 20 cm long, female flowers in short spikes of 2 - 5. Fruit is a nut surrounded by a husk, 4.5 - 7 cm long, 4 - 5 cm wide; husk oblong to nearly spherical, thick, woody, splitting to the base; nut 4- to 6-ribbed, edible and sweet.

Similar Species: Carya laciniosa can be distinguished from other hickories by its shaggy bark; stout, orange-tan twigs with orange lenticels; 7 leaflets with soft hairs below; very large, oblong to spherical, 4- to 6-ridged nuts with husks splitting to base; and large terminal buds with slightly curling outer scales.
Carya cordiformis, Carya glabra, Carya ovata, Carya tomentosa

Flowering: May to early June.

Habitat and Ecology: Floodplains and wooded bottomlands.

Notes: Ax handles, skis and wagon hubs were once made with the strong wood of this species. The edible nuts have excellent flavor.

Etymology: Carya comes from the Greek name for walnut. Laciniosa means shredded, referring to the bark.

Regional Status: Native.