The present investigation of the shagbark began in the fall of 1949 and
continued through the summer of 1953. It was initiated with the previous
knowledge of the extreme variability to be observed between the nuts of
individual shagbark hickory trees and was conducted for the purpose of
determining whether or not that variability was also expressed through
other features of the tree such as buds, leaves, bark or form.
Consequently, a systematic study was begun of individual trees totaling
158 found mostly in Onondaga County, New York plus the edges of
surrounding counties. The trees were observed throughout the growing
season so that the various tree parts could be observed for comparison.
It was a preconceived idea by the author that there might be several or
more distinct subdivisions into which individuals of shagbark might be
placed through the use of macroscopic characters.

Observations were made over a period of three growing seasons on the
following characters of each tree:

(1) bark
(2) buds and twigs
(3) leaves
(4) flowers
(5) fruit

Each character was observed more than once for each tree as a check on
possible yearly variation for specific characteristics in the trees from
which data was collected.

The generalized description for shagbark hickory is as follows:

SIZE--a tree ranging at maturity from 50 to 100+ feet in height,
generally 2 to 3 feet in diameter and very occasionally reaching 4
feet in diameter.

BARK--usually under 3/4 of an inch in thickness, occasionally up to
1 inch thick with a characteristic light or smoky-gray color when
dry and breaking up into long plates or strips loosely attached to
the trunk near the middle of the plate.

BUDS--terminal buds usually 3/8 to 3/4 of an inch long, subglobose
to narrowly ovate, with 8-10 imbricate scales, the outermost of
which are a blackish brown with dark brown tomentum, and a short
mucronate or attenuate apex, inner scales light brown with longer
lanate pubescence and apex acute to obtuse; lateral buds smaller,
about 1/4 of an inch with tightly appressed scales.

TWIGS--angled or rounded, reddish brown to yellowish brown, or gray,
turning more or less gray with age; pubescent the first year.

LEAVES--compound--ranging from 3-7 ovate to oblong lanceolate
leaflets, usually 5, terminal leaflet as large or larger than the
first two laterals, usually 4-8