Carpinus
caroliniana Walter,
or the American Hornbeam, is in my opinion one of the most underrated
native tree species. This is an absolutely beautiful tree with
delicate looking light green foliage and a strong muscular grey bark
that is similar to the Beech family, but in fact is in the Birch
Family. Commonly known as Ironwood, as well as Blue Beech, Water
Beech, and Musclewood. The name Ironwood is also, and more aptly used
for, the American Hop hornbeam or Ostrya
virginiana (also in
the Birch Family),
as well as the
Persian Ironwood or Parrotia
persica, which is
more related to Witch Hazel (Hamamelidaceae) than the Hornbeam. Or
many species of tree around the world with an extremely dense
hardwood, including one of my personal favorites, Lignum
vitae (a South
American hardwood also known as Ironwood).
This is exactly why
Carl Linnaeus invented the scientific Latin binomial system, to avoid
the confusion associated with the common names of each tree species.
The name Walter is the discoverer of the tree, Thomas Walter, an
early American Botanist who is most famous for his book ‘Flora
Caroliniana’ (1788).
A
slow growing tree that can grow to thirty feet or more in the
northeast and maybe upwards of
seventy feet or more with enough time, nobody knows. Apparently, in southern Mexico and Central America this tree grows much larger, due to a more favorable tropical wet climate. But alas we live in the Northeast, and as the trees do, we have to live with the same harsh winter season. The thin simple leaf is a light to medium green color with an alternate growth pattern. The leaves have a serrated, ovate-oblong, acuminate, rounded or even heart shaped form that is very Birch like. The bark is a recognizable smooth grey with a sinewy and muscular growth form that reminds some of a Beech. Even with an extremely tough and hard wood, the younger bark itself is somewhat susceptible to mechanical damage, so climbers tread lightly. Propagation from seed collected prior to fall chill and transplanting with a shallow but wide root ball are recommended
seventy feet or more with enough time, nobody knows. Apparently, in southern Mexico and Central America this tree grows much larger, due to a more favorable tropical wet climate. But alas we live in the Northeast, and as the trees do, we have to live with the same harsh winter season. The thin simple leaf is a light to medium green color with an alternate growth pattern. The leaves have a serrated, ovate-oblong, acuminate, rounded or even heart shaped form that is very Birch like. The bark is a recognizable smooth grey with a sinewy and muscular growth form that reminds some of a Beech. Even with an extremely tough and hard wood, the younger bark itself is somewhat susceptible to mechanical damage, so climbers tread lightly. Propagation from seed collected prior to fall chill and transplanting with a shallow but wide root ball are recommended
Written by: Richard
Caldwell, ISA arborist, 20 year tree industry veteran climber
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