Shagbark Hickory's yellow-green compound leaves (left) are 8"-14" long--usually with five (sometimes seven) lobe-shaped leaflets; these are finely serrated and edged with very fine hairs. (This fuzziness differentiates C. ovata from all other hickories and especially from C. laciniosa, the Shellbark Hickory, which has similar shaggy bark. Shellbark also differs in having elongated fruit and 5-9 leaflets.) Each Shagbark Hickory twig has large leaf scars, plus noticeable white dots called "lenticels" that likely function in gas exchange. Its most prominent feature, however, is a fat, dark brown terminal bud (below right). Fuzzy and quite distinctive, these inch-long buds literally burst open in spring to reveal clusters of fast-growing new leaves (below left). In fall, the mature foliage turns a rich golden yellow.