The wood of shagbark hickory is famousfor being heavy and tough, yet fl exible and shockresistant.Because of these qualities, it is used insporting equipment (skis, lacrosse sticks, archerybows) and tools (ax handles). It was the wood ofchoice for wagon wheel hubs. Today it is used insulkies for harness horses. American pioneers usedhickory to heat their drafty cabins.The genus name, Carya, is from the Greek namefor a walnut tree; its species name, ovata , means full oval,referring to its egg-shaped nut husk, buds and leaves. Worldchampion trees can be found in South Carolina (153 feet),Kentucky and Georgia (both 132 feet).