Interesting Facts
The hickories are divided into three groups comprised of the pecans, the shagbarks, and the pignuts. Kingnut (also called shellbark) hickory is in the shagbark group, which is distinguished from the others by large terminal buds, bark that peels off in long, sometimes curling strips, and thick twigs. Kingnut hickory is further distinguished from other hickories by its orange-brown dotted twigs which may be slightly hairy.

Identifying Features

Bark
Kingnut hickory bark is light gray and smooth when the tree is young, breaking into long, shaggy, curling strips when the trunk is 4 – 8 inches in diameter. 
Leaves
The leaves are alternate, pinnately compound, with 5 - 9 lance-shaped leaflets. The leaflets, which are pointed at the tip and finely toothed at the edges, are up to 10 inches long and half as wide. The entire leaf is quite large - up to 24 inches long. Leaflets are dark green and smooth on the upper surface and paler and slightly hairy below.
Flowers
Male and female flowers are born separately on the same tree (moneocious), the males as drooping catkins, both of which appear after the leaves have begun to unfold in the spring. 
Fruits
The nuts are up to 2 1/2 inches in diameter, more or less round, with the husk divided all the way to the base in four sections. They are light brown and have very tiny, orange speckles. They ripen in August  - October and have very sweet seeds that are sold commercially for human consumption. 

Uses
Kingnut hickory nuts are edible and sold commercially. Squirrels also eat the nuts. The wood is hard, very strong, and close grained. It is used for tool handles, agricultural implements, interior finishing, and for fuel. Native Americans used kingnut hickory medicinally for pain.