Hi^NDBOOK OF TkEES OF THE NoKTJlEBN StATES AND CaNADA. 115 



The Hornbeam in the forest sometimes at- 

 tains the height Of 30 or 40 ft. and a diameter 

 of trunk of 18 in. or 2 ft. vested in a thin very 

 close and smooth bluish gray bark often mot- 

 tled witli lighter or darker tints. When iso- 

 lated from oilier trees it develops a broad open 

 head with numerous tough branches, the larger 

 of which and the trunk are much furrowed and 

 ridged, suggestive of knotted sinews, on ac- 

 count of wiiicli resemblance the Indians called 

 it " Otantahrteweii," meaning " //ic lean tree." 

 It grows (in low moist bottom-lands in com- 

 pany with tlie Holly, Sweet Bay, Swamp Buy, 

 Gums, lied .Ma])le, Water Locust, Prickly 

 Ash, etc. in the south Atlantic states, where 

 it is more abundant than northward and at- 

 tains its largest size. In the northern part of 

 its range it is a small tree with less sym- 

 metrical and crooked trunks or often a tall 

 shrub. Here it is commonly found along the 

 banks of streams over whose waters it extends 

 its many handsome sprays of beautiful foliage 

 and curious clusters of leaf-like fruit. 



The wood of the Hornbeam is hea\'j', a cubic 

 foot when dry weighing 45.41 lbs., tough, 

 strong and of a light brown color with abun- 

 dant whitish sap-wood. It is used chiefly for 

 fuel thougl,! suitable for tool-handles, and 

 articles of wooden ware.i 



Lrarrs ovate-olilong, 

 acumiDate, rounded or si 

 and unequally soi'rate w 

 often iii('(|uil;it('ial. pulic 

 but finally Klalirous, du 

 pressed veins above, palt 

 hairs in the axils of 



2-5 in. long, acute or 

 bcordate at base, sharply 

 th stout spreadins tooth, 

 icoul and plioato at first 



1- alid with tufts of \vhito 

 veins lioucath ; petioles 



slender, pubescent ; winter-hiids ovoid, acute 

 somewhat incurved with numerous brown white- 

 margined scales. Floircrs: starainate aments I-l'.. 

 in. long; pistillate V2-% in. long with green 

 scales and scarlet style.s. Fruit nuts Vg in. liiui 

 with invo ucres with stout stalljs 1-1 1/2 in. long 

 with middle lobe large and serrate on one side and 

 one lateral lobe commonly wan ting. - 



1. A. W., II, 42. 



2. For genus see 



p. 427. 



