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 1-114 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 bord~ 
ers 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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