BETULACEAE 



Blue Beech. Water Beech 



Carpinus caroliniana, Walt. 



HABIT. Usually a low, bushy tree or large shrub, 10-30 

 feet high, with a trunk diameter of 6-12 inches; trunk short, 

 usually fluted ; slender zigzag branches and a fine spray form a 

 close, flat-topped crown. 



LEAVES. Alternate, simple, 2-4 inches long and one-half 

 as broad; ovate to oval, long-pointed; sharply doubly serrate; 

 thin and firm ; dull green above, lighter beneath, turning scarlet 

 and orange in autumn; petioles short, slender, hairy. 



FLOWERS. May, after the leaves; monoecious; apetalous; 

 the staminate catkins i-i l / 2 inches long, their scales greenish, 

 boat-shaped, each bearing 3-20 stamens ; the pistillate catkins 

 ^-34 inch long, their scales 'hairy, greenish, each bearing 2 

 pistils with long, scarlet styles. 



FRUIT. Ripens in midsummer, but often remains on the 

 tree long after the leaves have fallen ; in loose, terminal strobiles ; 

 involucre halberd-shaped, inclosing a small, ovate, brownish nut. 



WINTER-BUDS. Terminal bud absent; lateral buds % 

 inch long, narrow-ovoid, acute, puberulous, brownish. 



BARK. Twigs pale green, hairy, becoming lustrous, dark 

 red the first winter; trunk and large limbs thin, smooth, close, 

 dark bluish gray, often mottled with lighter or darker patches. 



WOOD. Heavy, 'hard, tough, very strong, close-grained, 

 light brown, with thick, whitish sapwood. 



DISTRIBUTION. Common throughout the state. 



HABITAT. Prefers a deep, rich, moist soil along the bor- 

 ders of streams and swamps. Often found in drier situations in 

 the shade of other trees. 



NOTES. Propagated from seed. Not easily transplanted. 

 Slow of growth. Seldom found in masses. 



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