Let’s have a look at another uncommon tree. Kingnut, Carya laciniosa, is an uncommon tree in the midwest, especially on limestone. It is a spectacular tree that is large in all its aspects. The tree in the photo is growing in the middle of one of the largest woodland pastures remaining in the Bluegrass.

Kingnut is the name given to this tree by settlers. Later, botanists applied the name shellbark hickory, but kingnut is not only the original name but is far more appropriate. Kingnuts are the largest hickory fruit and are sweet and nutritious. I hope we can return to using the original, appropriate name for this amazing tree.

Photo: A large kingnut tree in front of a blue ash in a woodland pasture. Photo by Tom Kimmerer