American Hornbeam
Carpinus caroliniana
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American hornbeam has a wide range across the eastern US--growing from central Maine westward through Quebec and Ontario to northern Minnesota, southward to eastern Texas, and eastward to central Florida. There are separate populations in central and southern Mexico, Guatemala, and Honduras. It prefers rich, moist bottomland soils. It's commonly found on poorly drained sites, but can also grow on well drained sites. It's tolerant of shade, though tolerance declines with age.
Fruit: A 4-6 mm, ribbed nutlet appearing at the base of a 3-pointed leafy bract arranged in drooping clusters. They ripen from August to October.
Flowers: A fuzzy, yellow-green catkin. They appear between April and May before leaves are fully grown.
Uses: Because the wood is very strong, it's used to make tools but rarely for lumber. It makes for a good street tree due to its small trunk.
Ethnobotany: The leaves have been used as an astringent. The wood was used by early American settlers for bowls, tool handles, and ox yokes.
Importance to wildlife: Various animals eat nearly all parts of the tree. It's a larval host to 4 species of butterfly.
The bark of an American hornbeam. Bark is gray, tight, and smooth. It's known for being sinewy and fluted, hence the other common name "ironwood".
A single leaf on an American hornbeam. Leaves are 4-10 cm long, sharply double toothed, long pointed at the apex, and rounded at the base.
The underside of a leaf, showing the veins. American hornbeam veins extend to each large tooth without bifurcation.
The leaf arrangement of an American hornbeam. Leaves are simple and alternate.
A lateral bud on an American hornbeam. Buds are 4-angled, pointed, reddish-brown, and 8-12 scaled. There are two sizes: smaller leaf buds and larger, plumper flower buds. Terminal buds are absent.
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