Forests are an important feature of the Michigan landscape. HOP HORNBEAM (Ostrya virginiana) Medicine: Chippewa used the wood at the heart of the branch in making a cough syrup, and in a medicine for kidney disorders. Logs will last a long time but they are difficult to split. Solitary pistillate inflorescences first appear with the beginning of leaf development, and full bloom occurs about a month later. Hop Hornbeam Wood Hop hornbeam, locally called ironwood, is a small tree, hard and tough. Hop Hornbeam Ostrya virginiana Hazelnut family (Corylaceae) Description: This medium-small tree is up to 50' tall; it has a finely branched rounded crown. The eastern, or American, hop-hornbeam (O. virginiana) is known as ironwood for its hard, heavy wood, used locally for fence posts and small articles such as tool handles. Blue-beech or Hornbeam (Carpinus caroliniana) is similar to Hop-hornbeam … It is naturally found in dry, rocky forests. Leaves and Buds Musclewood comes from the muscular look of the trunk. The Easter Ironwood is a hardwood tree in the family Betulaceae. The combination of trunk and bark should separate this tree from the American Hornbeam, with which it has shared an unusual history of confusion in common names. It is extremely hard; in fact it has the hardest wood of any tree in Europe. The American hop hornbeam tree has very hard and dense wood. The Primitave Archer website says it’s #2 with osage-orange being #1. Nearly 18 million acres or essentially 50 percent of the land area of the state are occupied by forest vegetation. The mature growth of this tree is around 25' tall x 25' wide. Long-lived (150 years), Ostrya virginiana (American Hop Hornbeam) is a slow-growing, small to medium-sized deciduous tree of pyramidal habit in youth, developing an oval to rounded crown over time. They are not often distinguished in technical documents and often erroneously interchanged. Though they can grow to 2.5 feet in diameter and as much as 50 feet tall, hornbeam seldom reach more than 30 feet, and it’s rare to find a tree over a foot in diameter. It is indeed a very hard, heavy and stiff wood. All of these make excellent hot ans long burning firewood. The combination of trunk and bark should separate this tree from the American Hornbeam, with which it has shared an unusual history of confusion in common names. Lilac Wood The wood of the lilac bush is very hard and strong. The name is instead given for the wood’s … Also hop hornbeam is easier to debark than hornebam because it's smoother under bark. Ostrya virginiana, commonly called American hop hornbeam, is a deciduous, Missouri native tree which usually occurs in dry soils on rocky slopes, upland woods and bluffs throughout the State.A small to medium-sized, understory tree with a generally rounded crown. The "hornbeam" part of the common name, hop hornbeam, also comes from its strength-under-pressure qualities. American hornbeam, Carpinus caroliniana has smooth grey bark which is often rippled like muscle, causing it to be called muscle-wood in some areas. The Primitave Archer website says it’s #2 with osage-orange being #1. Reply; Nina Jillaine February 23, 2018, 4:40 am. An Equal Opportunity University. Maybe it is one more of the reasons for rare hornbeam bows. Tree; Above ground, woody, perennial; Can grow to be 50 ft tall, more commonly stays between 30 ft- 40 ft; The fruits of the Eastern Ironwood are small, flattened nuts, which are clustered inside egg-shaped papery sacs that resemble hops (indeed, another common name for the tree is the hop-hornbeam). From shop BirchBarkBarrette. Photo courtesy of Minnesota Seasons (http://minnesotaseasons.com/Plants/ironwood.html). The trees are rather small with a 10” trunk being good sized, so lumber is smaller pieces. This small, short-lived tree is common in the understorey of rich, moist woods. Color is nearly white. A small, slow-growing tree, found in pockets along rivers in eastern North Dakota. N-318 Ag Sciences Center University of Kentucky Lexington, KY 40546-0091, Fax (Lexington): 859-257-2859       (Princeton): 270-365-2667, For questions about home gardening, landscaping or commercial horticulture production, please contact your county extension agent. Reference: https://www.na.fs.fed.us/spfo/pubs/silvics_manual/volume_2/ostrya/virginiana.htm. The bark of mature Ostrya trees tends to split into narrow vertical strips and becomes somewhat flaky and the appearance is very distinctive. Lilac Wood The wood of the lilac bush is very hard and strong. Fruit are drooping clusters at the tip of branches that look like hops, hence the common name hop hornbeam Each small inflated sac has a hard nutlet inside; fruit changes from green cream to tan. American hophornbeam should be transplanted balled- and-burlapped or from a container in early spring. Each tree has at some time been called by the common name of the other. Typically grows 25-40' tall with a slightly smaller spread. The fruits of the Eastern Ironwood are small, flattened nuts, which are clustered inside egg-shaped papery sacs that resemble hops (indeed, another common name for the tree is the hop-hornbeam). Despite their hard wood, hop hornbeams are rarely used as timber trees. It can also be grown in containers or root-control bags. As nouns the difference between ironwood and hornbeam is that ironwood is (countable) any of a number of tree species known for having a particularly solid wood while hornbeam is a tree of the genus carpinus , having a smooth gray bark and a ridged trunk, the wood being white and very hard, common along the banks of streams in the united states. References: http://minnesotaseasons.com/Plants/ironwood.html. Hop-hornbeam (Ostrya virginiana) has winter leaves that tend to curl. Male and female flowers are in separate clusters on the same tree, which means that the plant is monoecious with imperfect flowers. Excellent tree for naturalized landscapes. Hornbeam (genus Carpinus) is relatively small hardwood trees.1 1 Wandlore 2 Hornbeam wand owners 3 Behind the scenes 4 Appearances 5 Notes and references Hornbeam selects for its life mate the talented witch or wizard with a single, pure passion, which some might call obsession - more kindly - vision, which will almost always be realised. The American hornbeam (Carpinus caroliniana) is a deciduous hardwood shade tree that's native to eastern North America.It is part of the Betulaceae (birch) family and has several nicknames, including blue beech, muscle beech, water beech, muscletree, musclewood, and ironwood. The fruit is a nutlet that resembles a hop like fruit from hop vine. So named because the fruit bears a resemblance to the fruit on hop vines, hence “hop-hornbeam.” Sometimes referred to as “Ironwood,” though it is one of the few hardwoods bearing this name that do not actually sink in water. Its wood is very hard and is sometimes used to make tool handles. This tree can be found in all counties of Illinois and much of the Eastern United States (see Distribution Map), where it is native and fairly common. The American hornbeam (Carpinus caroliniana) is a deciduous hardwood shade tree that's native to eastern North America.It is part of the Betulaceae (birch) family and has several nicknames, including blue beech, muscle beech, water beech, muscletree, musclewood, and ironwood. It is one of several tree species called ironwood because their wood is so hard. I have some on my own place, but very few trees, so I hate to cut those. The foliage of birch-like, elliptical or ovate, finely serrated, medium green leaves, 5 in. Pollen forms, matures, and sheds in spring through wind dissemination. It is found throughout the state of Ohio. The European hop-hornbeam (Ostrya carpinifolia) and the Japanese hop-hornbeam (O. japonica) may reach 21 m (70 feet); the other species are much smaller. Privacy policy. Hickory - Hop Hornbeam Forests/ Woodlands are open communiies dominated by various hickory species with signiicant hop hornbeam in the subcanopy; This community is characterized by a sparse shrub layer, and a nearly coninuous cover of grasses and sedges; Hornbeam Tree Info. Once again, with practice the color is distinctive. Photo: N. Putnam, DCR. A lovely shade tree suitable for most settings, American hornbeams are compact trees that fit the scale of the average home landscape perfectly. The fruits on the tree are contained inside hop-like capsules similar in color and appearance to the hop plant which gives this tree its unique name. Hornbeam's bark is so tight and if you try to steam it to easier debark immediatly after that- wood cracks alot. This wood is excellent for making bows, furniture, or anything else that you want to last forever. Hornbeams, also known as ironwood and musclewood, get their common names from their strong wood, which rarely cracks or splits. Plant growth form. The leaves of Ostrya virginiana are simple, alternate and doubly-toothed. Often the wood has specialty uses though. Hop hornbeam? Sometimes (especially formerly) called Leverwood, from the hardness and strength of the wood. Fruit change from green to tan when they mature. Maybe it is one more of the reasons for rare hornbeam bows. The U.S. national champion is located near Grand Traverse, Mich., and is 74 feet tall with a 3-foot trunk. Copyright 2020, University of Kentucky, College of Agriculture, Food and Environment. Nowadays, it’s mainly used for furniture, flooring and wood turning, but traditionally the wood was made into ox yokes which were used to join a … Hickory - Hop Hornbeam Forest/Woodland site with exotic removal. Both are understory trees and can grow in shade to partial-shade, share a similar leaf shape, are known for having very hard wood, distinctive bark, showy catkins, and yellow-to … Top Hophornbeam facts. The Eastern Ironwood is monoecious; I to 3 staminate infloresecences develop at the end of branches late in the summer that precede pistillate flower development. Birds provide a secondary means of seed dispersal after wind. It is frequently called iron wood but that name is shared by other species. Location of Ostrya virginiana (Ironwood) at the Arboretum The buds and nuts are eaten by a wide variety of … It makes good tool handles and if I get hold of some I use it for wooden spoons, but it is not very plentiful. Be sure to come in the summer to admire its attractive yellow-green color and festive white flowers. Ironwood is considered one of Illinois' toughest native hardwoods and is not only ornamental but resistant to many disease and insect problems. Depending on where you live Blue Beech, American Hophornbeam, Eastern Hophornbeam and even Musclewood (due to its twisted trunk and resemblance to a muscle) are names given to describe "Ironwood" which makes identifying the tree somewhat confusing. Here’s what the fruit looks like: A closely related tree, the blue beech (Carpinus caroliniana), also carries the hornbeam and ironwood names. Be sure to use them in naturalized areas. In this area the wood is referred to as “Ironwood” and it is hard and heavy. References: http://minnesotaseasons.com/Plants/ironwood.html. Longbows led in one famous case to the triumph of the severely out-numbered British army over the French at Agincourt, which was immortalized in the St. Crispin’s Day speech in Shakespeare’s King Henry V. It is probable that a relative of the Easter Ironwood was used to make those bows. For all sites pooled, Tsuga wood pieces comprised 35% of the wood surface area in Tsuga‐dominated stands, Betula 18%, and Acer 29%, with 18% of area made up of minor species, vs. 27%, 18%, 48% and 8%, respectively, in Acer‐dominated Hop-Hornbeam is native to Michigan. Discussion in 'The Wood Pile' started by Wrad, Mar 7, 2019. Leaves resemble elm but this tree is a member of the Birch family. The American hop hornbeam tree has very hard and dense wood. Seeds are light, about 66,000 cleaned seeds per kg. The veins extend outward from a central vein and are straight and parallel, while the sides are sharply toothed. Hop hornbeam, Ostrya virginiana, has light brown shreddy bark and gets the hop hornbeam name from the cluster of overlapping seed pods which resemble a cone of fruits on a hop vine. In picture 1424 is the American Hophornbeam that I stacked yesterday, in picture 1425 I finished the stack today. Site design : Academic Web Pages. Wood pieces covered 6.2% of the forest floor at Porcupine and 4.4% at both Sylvania and Huron. This hard dense wood also makes high quality charcoal. It is frequently called iron wood but that name is shared by other species. Ironwood firewood is commonly used as a blanket term for several different types of dense firewood producing trees. The tree has light brown heartwood and thick, white sapwood. Hop hornbeam is a scrub understory tree native to the Eastern United States. Female inflorescences are in loose, elongated clusters at the ends of new shoots, with the eventual fruits contained inside papery sacs. Hop hornbeam gets its name from its fruits, which are enclosed in scales that loosely resemble the hops used in making beer (Humulus lupulus). Have I identified this tree correctly? Easter Ironwood is usually found in upland wooded areas. The tree has fruit that resembles hops and the wood has been used to make tool handles and yoke beams for oxen, hence the name hop hornbeam.I obtained a burl of hop hornbeam from the UP of Michigan. . To foresters, they’re considered a “weed tree” that outcompetes more profitable tree species. Page 1 of 2 1 2 Next > Wrad. The crown is broad and rounded or cone-shaped. The bark and inner wood was used to treat toothache, sore muscles, coughs, and many other ailments by American Indians. A hard nut is inside each pod. Joined: Feb 16, 2018 Messages: 1 Likes Received: 15 Location: TN. The American hop hornbeam is often confused with the American hornbeam. Eastern hophornbeam (Ostrya virginiana) is aka ironwood. In the fall, the leaves change color to a dark yellow and often stay on the tree until winter. Saw that you mentioned hop hornbeam wouldn’t make a good archery bow. In picture 1426, I'm getting set to split the rounds I moved out of our shoulder season stacking area (picture 1429) the rest of the pictures are from moving the rounds and the splitting I … Ironwood is a synonym of hornbeam. In the winter they are short, stiff, and erect. Hop-Hornbeam is native to Michigan. The 30–40 species occur across much of the temperate regions of the Northern Hemisphere. WARNING: Some websites to which these materials provide links for the convenience of users are not managed by the University of Kentucky. These native American shade trees grow from Canada to Florida (zone 3 -9) as a very cold hardy tree and are also called: Eastern Ironwood trees, because hophornbeam has such a dense, strong wood that is excellent to use in tool handles and fence posts. This year was a year of tree tapping experimentation. I have some on my own place, but very few trees, so I hate to cut those. The reference to muscle relates to the tree's characteristic fluted trunk and branches that look like muscle tissue. It is difficult to reestablish after transplanting. References: http://minnesotaseasons.com/Plants/ironwood.html, The branches of the Eastern Ironwood are long, slender, and spreading, while the twigs are slender, reddish brown, hairy, and they zigzag outward from the tree. The U.S. national champion is located near Grand Traverse, Mich., and is 74 feet tall with a … The American hop hornbeam is often confused with the American hornbeam. Reply; Nina Jillaine February 23, 2018, 4:40 am. The Eastern hop hornbeam gets its scientific name Ostrya from a Greek word meaning “bone” since the wood of this tree is very hard and heavy. In the Old World, a hornbeam was … In the wild, this tree provides shade for wildflowers and mosses. Not sure about that exact species but I have worked with quite a bit of Eastern Hop Hornbeam (Ostrya virginiana) here in Minnesota and they look to be closely related. White bracelet, Hornbeam Wood, Light Bracelet, Wooden Bracelet, Handmade Bracelet, Boho Style, Woodpecker, Gift for Her, Gift for Girl BirchBarkBarrette. Hop hornbeam, Ostrya virginiana, has light brown shreddy bark and gets the hop hornbeam name from the cluster of overlapping seed pods which resemble a cone of fruits on a hop vine. For undergraduate student information regarding the Sustainable Agriculture program, contact Dr. Krista Jacobsen at (859) 257-3921, or krista.jacobsen@uky.edu. The Eastern Ironwood, known also as the American Hophornbeam, Eastern Hop-hornbeam, Hophornbeam, Ironwood, or Leverwood, stretches over much of the Eastern United States with its attractive foliage and bell-like inflorescences. The wood of this tree is strong and hard. The reference to muscle relates to the tree's characteristic fluted trunk and branches that look like muscle tissue. The foliage resembles that of yellow birch (Betula alleghaniensis), but, as in Carpinus, the leaves are always single, not in pairs, while in B. alleghaniensis the leaves on very short lateral shoots (not new branchlets) are generally paired. In the southeast, flowering occurs in the first two weeks of April, and in the north, between mid-May and mid-June (so unfortunately, we were not able to capture it in person). Pale yellowish brown heartwood isn’t clearly demarcated from sapwood. The strips can be seen to spiral around the trunk. Its hardness is prized for tool handles or walking canes. The tree has 3 trunks, arising from the main trunk at 17.5 cm, probably after coppicing. Blue beech’s official name is American hornbeam without the “hop.” Both trees are commonly called ironwood . The hop-hornbeam in the Outdoor Learning Lab contributes to the overall beauty in the landscape but it also provides food and shelter for many different species of animals. Hop Hornbeam Wood Hop hornbeam, locally called ironwood, is a small tree, hard and tough. It is co… The tree also earned the name ironwood from its tough, hard wood… Its wood is very hard and is sometimes used to make tool handles. Both are understory trees and can grow in shade to partial-shade, share a similar leaf shape, are known for having very hard wood, distinctive bark, showy catkins, and yellow-to … The largest tree in North Dakota is 33 feet tall with a canopy spread of 34 feet. In modern times, Easter Ironwoods are used for making fence posts and for decoration, often as street trees. The wood of hop hornbeam is hard and durable. It is a medium sized tree with mature trees reaching heights of 10-16 m (30-52 ft) and developing a trunk 15-30 cm (6-12 in) in diameter. Name – Ostrya carpinifolia Family – Betulaceae Type – tree Height – 32 to 65 feet (10 to 20 meters) Exposure – full sun Soil – ordinary Foliage – deciduous Flowering – April-May. American hophornbeam was introduced into the landscape in 1690. Color is nearly white. Saw that you mentioned hop hornbeam wouldn’t make a good archery bow. The Ironwood (American Hophornbeam) is a native, smaller tree many times found as an understory plant. Other Resources: USDA Ironwood is a tough understory tree with beautiful birch-like leaves, grayish-brown flaky bark, fine-textured drooping branches, and attractive hop-like fruits. Ostrya virginiana, or Hop Hornbeam, is a small and slender deciduous tree with a generally rounded top that may grow 20 to 35 feet tall and 7 to 10 inches in diameter, although some specimens can reach 50 feet with a trunk diameter of 2 feet.