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HORNBEAM (Carpinus earoliniana Walt.) 



THE hornbeam, often known as ironwood and 

 occasionally as water beech, is a smaU, slow- 

 growing, bushy tree with a spreading top of slender, 

 crooked, or drooping branches. It is found along 

 streams and in low ground throughout the State. 

 Its height is usually from 20 to 30 feet and its 

 diameter 4 to 8 inches, although it sometimes grows 

 larger. 



The trunk is fluted with irregular ridges extend- 

 ing up and down the tree. The Ibark is 

 light brownish gray to dark bluish gray 

 in color, sometimes marked with dark 

 bands extending horizontally on the 

 trunk. 



The leaves are simple, alternate, oval, 



long- pointed, 

 doubly toothed 

 along the mar- 



giii» 



or 



Twig one-half 

 natural size. Leaf 



HOKNBEAM 

 one-third natural size. 



inches inlength. 

 They resemble 

 those of the 

 black or sweet 

 birch, but are 

 smaller. 



The flowers 



are borne in cat- 

 kins separately on the same tree; the male catkin 

 about 1% inches long, the female about three-fourths 

 of an inch, with small, leaf -like, 3-lobed green scales. 

 The fruit is a nutlet about one-third of an inch long. 

 It falls, attached to the leaf -like scale which acts as 

 a wing in aiding its distribution by the wind. 



The wood is tough, close-grained, heavy and 

 strong. It is sometimes selected for use for levers, 

 tool handles, wooden cogs, mallets, wedges, etc. The 

 tree is of little commercial importance and often 

 occupies space in the woods that should be utilized 

 by more valuable kinds. 



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