Carpinus 531 



stipules caducous. Fruit : strobiles, up to 3 inches long ; bracts very loosely 

 imbricated, about | inch long, semi-ovate, outer side irregularly serrate, inner side 

 sub-entire, with a lobe near the base, which is infolded, but does not conceal the 

 nutlet. 



This species is a native of China and Japan. According to Sargent, it is very 

 like the European hornbeam in habit, fluted stem, and smooth bark. It is common in 

 all the mountain forests of Hondo, where it is most abundant at elevations between 

 2CKDO and 3000 feet. Near Agematsu, in Shinshu, at 2000 feet altitude, it was 

 collected by Elwes, who saw no tree of any great size or beauty, though the leaves 

 turn red and yellow in autumn. In Yezo, it descends to sea-level on the southern 

 shores of Volcano Bay, where, near the town of Mori, it is common in oak forests, 

 and grows to its largest size. In China, this species grows in the mountains of 

 Hupeh, Eastern Szechwan, and Kiangsi ; but is rare, displaying considerable variation 

 in the character of the leaves and fruit.^ 



It has not yet, apparently, been introduced into cultivation. Plants at Kew, 

 sent under the name of C. laxiflora, from the Arnold Arboretum in 1895, are C. 

 japonica. (A. H.) 



CARPINUS CAROLINIANA, American Hornbeam 



Carpinus caroliniana, Walter, Fl. Carol. 236 (1788); Sargent, Silva N. Amer. ix. 42, t. 447 (1896), 



and Trees N. Amer. 190 (1905); Winkler, Betulacece, 31 (1904). 

 Carpinus americana, Michaux, Fl. Bnr. Amer. ii. 201 (1803); Loudon, Arb. et Frul. Brit. iii. 2013 



(1838). 

 Carpinus Betulus, Koehne, Deutsche Dendrologie, 116 (1893)." 



A bushy tree, attaining, in America, rarely 40 feet in height and 6 feet in girth, 

 with stem and bark like the common hornbeam. Young branchlets with a few 

 scattered long hairs, the minute glandular pubescence often seen in C. Betulus never 

 being present. Leaves (Plate 201, Fig. 6) as in the common hornbeam, but usually 

 with fewer nerves, nine to ten pairs ; and unequal, rounded, or slightly cuneate at 

 the base. Stipules lanceolate, ^ inch long, caducous. Fruits: strobiles, 2 to 3 

 inches long ; bracts loosely imbricated, triangular-ovate, | to i inch long, with two 

 short unequal lateral lobes, and a much longer middle lobe, which is usually serrate 

 on only one margin ; pedicels of each pair of bracts united only at the base. 



In the absence of fruit, this species is difficult to distinguish from C. Betulus 

 from which Koehne could not distinguish it even as a variety. In autumn, the 

 beautiful red tint of the foliage of the American species is diagnostic. The best 

 mark of distinction lies, however, in the buds, which are small, ovoid, acute, | inch 

 long, with glabrous ciliate scales ; those of C. Betulus being large, fusiform, i to ^ 

 inch long, with pubescent ciliate scales. 



This species, which is known in America as the blue beech or water beech, is 

 found along the borders of streams and swamps, from Southern and Western Quebec 



1 Three varieties are distinguished by Burkill, loc. cil. 



