MASSACHUSETTS FOREST TREES 



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BLUE BEECH OR HORNBEAM (Water Beech) 



(Carpinus caroliniana Walt.) 



INHABITING wet woods and the border of swamps 

 and streams, the Blue Beech is of common occur- 

 rence throughout the State, though less frequent near 

 the coast than inland. It is a slow-growing, small 

 tree, ten to thirty feet high, with a short trunk not 

 than six to twelve inches in diameter. The 

 branches are irregular and crooked and extend 

 at varying angles. The head is compact, broad 

 and flat or somewhat roundish. The trunk is 



marked with 

 irregular, 

 longitudinal 

 ridges. Its 

 bark is smooth 

 like that of 

 the Beech and 

 of a bluish- 

 gray color. 

 For this rea- 

 son it is called 



the Blue Beech. The leaves are simple, 

 alternate, egg-shaped or oval, sharply 

 and irregularly toothed, 

 two to three inches in 

 length and very similar 

 to those of the Sweet 

 Birch, though the aro- 

 matic flavor is wanting. 

 The flowers are borne in 

 catkins. Both the fertile and the sterile ones appear 

 in the spring. 



In the fruit, the leaf-like body which subtends the 

 nutlet is three-lobed and not inflated, differing in this 

 respect from the fruit of the Hornbeam . 



The wood is compact, close-grained, tough, durable 

 and very strong. It is sometimes used for levers, 

 beetles and the handles of tools. 



BLUE BEECH 



Leaves and fruit. One-third natural 

 size. 



BLUE BEECH 



Winter twig. One-half natural size. 



