Carolina, also called Southern Shagbark Hickory, is a fairly common to uncommon large hickory of upland flats in the piedmont of NC. The leaves, with 5-7 leaflets, are not particularly distinctive, but the tree is easy to recognize when mature by the combination of thin, blackish twigs, small buds, and shaggy bark.

This distinctive tree is sometimes lumped with or considered a variety (australis) of Shagbark, which it resembles in also having shaggy bark. However, it is quite distinct morphologically and ecologically.

Where present, Carolina Shagbark is often the dominant hickory; it rarely grows with other shaggy-barked hickories. Shagbark and Shellbark hickories are normally found on moister, more acidic sites.

The distribution of this species in the state is unusual -- it occurs exclusively in the Piedmont region.

The bark at the base of large trees is tighter. This tree is the same one as in the photo above.

The specific epithet "carolinae-septentrionalis" means "North Carolina".

The husks split to the base.

These photos were taken in Durham Co., NC on 7/29/03.