Distribution.—Valley of the St. Lawrence River west to Nebraska and south to the Gulf States. In Indiana a map distribution of the species in the State shows that it has been found in practically all of the counties on the west, north and east borders. It is usually found in rich soil along streams and in rich woods, and may be found in all of the counties of the State. Despite the fact that no animal agency was active against the propagation of this tree, it was rarely found more than as an infrequent tree throughout our range.
Remarks.—The hickories as a class, except the pecan, can not stand "civilization," especially much tramping about the base. It appears that the pignut hickory is the most easily affected. In Parke County about Coxville great numbers of the trees have been killed by the borers. For the uses of the wood see shellbark hickory. Since this species does not produce as much marketable lumber as the shellbark hickory, and the nuts are valueless, it should not be recommended for planting in the farmer's woodlot. The rossed bark of this species is preferred by manufacturers of split-bottomed chairs, and is known by them as "yellow-bud" hickory.
3. Carya ovàta (Miller) K. Koch. Shellbark Hickory. [Plate 24.] Large and very tall trees; bark of young trees tight, beginning to scale when the trees reach 1-2 dm. in diameter, separating into long thin strips on old trees; twigs at the end of the season usually stout, 3-5 mm. in diameter near the tip, but some are slender and as small as 2.5 mm. in diameter, at first covered with hairs, becoming smooth at the end of the season or remaining hairy, reddish-brown; winter buds hairy, the terminal one on vigorous shoots long-ovoid, outer scales sharp-pointed; ordinary leaves 2-4 dm. long; leaflets 3-5, the lateral sessile or nearly so, the terminal one on a stalk about 1 dm. long, up to 10 cm. wide and 22 cm. long, leaflets variable in shape from ovate to oval, oblong-oval or obovate, all long taper-pointed, hairy beneath when they unfold and remaining hairy until maturity or sometimes becoming almost glabrous; fruit variable in size, 3-6 cm. long, usually subglobose, furrowed along the sutures at least near the outer end; husk freely splitting to the base, except one tree which was noted where the husk remains on the nut, rarely opening for only a short distance at the apex, very variable in thickness from 4-10 mm.; nut exceedingly variable, compressed, 4-angled, the angles generally visible to the base, 2-3 cm. long, more or less pointed, rarely rounded at the base or obcordate at the apex, generally ovate to oval in outline, some almost freakish in shape; shell generally thin; kernel sweet; wood heavy, very hard and strong, close-grained, light brown, sap wood white and thin on old trees.
CARYA OVATA (Miller) K. Koch. Shellbark Hickory. (× 1/2.)
The nuts are from different trees to show variation.
Distribution.—Quebec west to southern Minnesota, Kansas and eastern Texas, thence eastward to the Atlantic through the north part of the Gulf States. It is frequent to common in all parts of Indiana except on the hills of the southern part. It prefers rich moist soil and is generally found in bottom lands or on rolling land, and if in dryer situations on the sides of hills. It is generally associated with red oak, big shellbark hickory, swamp white oak, sweet gum, linn, white ash, slippery elm, sugar maple, beech, etc. In the forest it is a tall straight tree with few main branches for a crown. No tree carries its taper better than this species. When grown in the open the side branches do not shade off, and it grows to a medium height with a wide spreading crown.
Remarks.—The writer has one specimen from Wells County which no doubt should be referred to this species, but the description has not been drawn to cover it. The twigs are very slender and pubescent; the leaves are normal and pubescent; the fruit is obovoid, 2-4 cm. long; husk less than 1 mm. thick at outer end and 2 mm. thick at the base; nut obovoid, 1-8 cm. long, little compressed, rounded at the base, rounded at the apex, slightly angled, angles obscure on lower half; otherwise as the type.