American Hornbeam, Carolina Hornbeam
Carpinus caroliniana
Betulaceae (Birch Family)
éê Mature trees
é catkin flowers in spring
éê leaves and bracted fruiting structures
é smooth, dark gray to blue-gray bark
Location near campus: in Japanese Stroll Garden at the Botanical Center
Carpinus caroliniana:
American Hornbeam, Blue Beech, Musclewood, Ironwood
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leaves and stems similar to
European hornbeam
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bark blue-gray and smooth with sinewy ridges; very hard wood (hence, ironwood
name)
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grows 20-30' tall and as wide with open, rounded to flattened crown
-
main
visual difference from European Hornbeam
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fruit are drooping clusters of light green papery-like capsules with single
nutlet inside each capsule - attractive
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prefers deep shade and moist, fertile, high organic matter soil--
often
found along rivers and streams in native habitat and can tolerate flooding
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medium to slow growth rate
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native to Missouri