II 



>.\I)IUI(1K (11 



Ti;i:i:s C)F tjie Noktherx Statk.s and Canada. 



115 



The Hornbeam in the forest sometimes at- 

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

 of trunk of It) in. ur 2 ft. vested in a tliin very 

 close and smooth bluish gray bark often mot- 

 tled with lighter or darker tints. When iso- 

 lated from other trees it develops a broad open 

 head with numerous tough branches, the larger 

 of whieh and the trunk are much furrowed and 

 ridged. sugge.stive of knotted sinews, on ac- 

 count of which resemblance the Indians called 

 it '■ Otantahrteneh," meaning " tlie lean tree." 

 It gio\\s on low moist bottom-lands in com- 

 paiiy with the Holly. Sweet Bay, Swamp Bay, 

 Gums, Red Maple, 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 o\er whose waters it extends 

 its many handsome spiays ctf beautiful foliage 

 and curious clusters of leaf-like frtiit. 



I'he \\'Ood i.^f the Ilornbeani is hea\A', a cubic 



foot when dry wcigliing 4.">.41 lbs., tough. 



strong and of a liglit blown color with abun- 



diiiit whitish sap-wiiod. It is used chiefly for 



fuel though suitable for tool-handles, and 



articles of wooden ware.^ 



Lrarrs ovati^-obloDg, 2-5 in. hjng, acute or 

 acijoiiQate, rounded oi' subcordate at base, sharpl.y 

 itiMl unequally senate with stout spreading teeth. 

 oKen inequilateral, puljescent and plicate at first 

 but finally glabrous, dull green with deeply im- 

 pressed veins above, paler and with tufts of whiti^ 

 bail's In the axils of veins Iteneath ; petioles 

 slerirter. pubescent : winter-buds ovoid, acute and 

 somewhat incurved with numerous brown while- 

 iriargined scales. FJoinrs: staminate aments 1-1 1(, 

 in. long: pistillate V^-% in. long with green 

 scales and .scai-let styles. Fruit nuts % in. long 

 with involucres with stout stalks I-IV2 in. long 

 with middle lobe large and sei'rate on one side and 

 one lateral lolje commonly wanting. - 



1. .V. W., II, 42. 



2. For geni]S see j). 427. 



