BLUE BEECH. HORNBEAM 



Carpimu caroliniana Walt. 



The Birch Familj 



HK II I \» I U 



Habit and Habitat: A low, bushy tree, or tall shrub. LO-30 feet in 

 height, with a trunk diameter of I- 12 inches; trunk short, usually I 

 culiarly and irregularly fluted; the numerous Blender branches and fine 



spray produce a close, rounded or flat-topped crown. Common along the 



borders of streams and swamps and in the rich, moist soil of shady 



u ooda on si nd hilli 



LeaTCfl and Buds: Leaves alternate, simple, 2-4 inches long, 1-2 

 inches wide, ovate-oblong, long-pointed, rounded, or wedge-shaped, 



often unequal at the base, doubly and sharply serrate, smooth, dull. 



deep gr een above, paler beneath, turning brilliant scarlet and orange in 



autumn; petioles short, slender, hairy. Winter-buds ovate, acute, chest- 

 nut brown. ; s inch long, more or less hairy, inner scales enlarge when 

 spring growth begins; no terminal bud present. 



Plowen and Fruits: Flowers produced in catkins late in April or 

 in .May. after the leaves; staminate catkins l-l 1 - inches long, with 

 greenish scales; stamens :>-20, borne in the boat-shaped scales; pistillate 

 catkins \k'% inches long, scales thin, hairy, greenish, each scale bear- 

 ing 2 pistillate flowers with long scarlet styles. P'ruit ripening in mid- 

 summer, but may remain on the trees long after the leaves fall, in loose, 

 terminal, leafy cone-like clusters, each leafy bract deeply lobed, short - 

 stalked, partially inclosing a small oval, brownish nut. 



Bark, Twigs and Wood: Bark on the larger trees near the b;. 

 furrowed, on young trees and branches thin, smooth, close, dark bluish 

 gray, often mottled with light or dark patches, on young twigs at first 

 pale green changing to dull brown and finally dull, bluish gray. Twig- 

 and branches long, tough, often crooked or irregular. Wood light 

 brown, with thick, nearly white sapwood, heavy, hard, very tough, close- 

 ;ined, very strong; used for levers, tool handles, brooms, withe-, etc 



Distribution in the State: Occurs throughout eastern United States 

 except southern Florida and as far west as Arkansas and Missouri from 

 whence it has probably followed the Missouri river into Nebraska. It 

 has been reported from Sarpy county and also from Brown county. In 

 fact the species is not especially conspicuous at any place in its wide 

 range; becoming most abundant and of largest size in Arkansas. 



Remarks: The blue beech is a desirable tree for planting in - rks 

 and lawns where the soil is deep, rich and moist and where a con 

 able degree of shade may be secured. The dark, blue-green summer foli- 

 age and the beautiful autumn tints of the blue beech are strong featui 

 in its quality as an ornamental. The tree is also famous because <>f the 

 very tough nature of the wood. Early settlers in the northern st.. 

 often made their OX-gads from blue beech wood. I am anxious to have 

 specimens of this plant from different parts of the state since th< 

 are no authentic specimens of the species from Nebraska in our her- 

 barium. Then- is. in fact, some doubt as to the occurrence of the BOO) 

 in this state. 



