shellbark hickory

The shellbark hickory, also known as the big shellbark or king nut, is a type of hickory tree (Carya laciniosa) native to the eastern United States. It is similar to the shagbark hickory but is distinguished by its significantly larger nut. Hickories belong to the walnut family (Juglandaceae) and include about 18 species, most of which are found in North America. These deciduous trees typically grow to about 100 feet tall and produce compound leaves with multiple leaflets. Their fruit is a drupe with a fleshy husk that splits open as it matures, revealing a kernel. While some hickory nuts are bitter and inedible, the shellbark hickory produces large, sweet-tasting seeds that are among the principal edible nuts of the genus.12