1987. Please make another suggestion if it does not wrap a round. In … Walters. 2014. Carpinus caroliniana are called "musclewood," "ironwood," or "American Hornbeam" interchangeably. Beech buds are substantially more substantial, much longer and spear shaped, often held on the end of branchlets. The fox will eat the seeds as well. METHOD OF PREPARATION: Nutlets raw or roasted, boiled or ground to add to other flours or food. Comments or questions about this site, or for permission to use photos and information. The small trees own roots were very shallow, so with my pruners it was very easy to liberate the tree. Its other common name Ironwood is used to describe the dense, tough wood of this species. He’s incorrect about how big a hornbeam can get; if you hike the Appalachian Trail in Virginia, you will see hornbeam trees up to 48 inches in diameter….great, beautiful, monstrous trees that look like they’re built out of skin-wrapped bundles of rope. He had been a policeman most of his adult life and at some point someone made him a Billy Club from a chunk of Ironwood. This one has a single trunk that was growing from the root of another tree with only sparse roots of its own. Ironwood is a synonym of hornbeam. And, I want to put two in my yard. It was planted near to a Katsura tree and for a long time I thought that the tree I am describing was the Katsura. It was used for tool handles. virginiana (Marshall) Furlow, Syst. Information about the common street trees of Albion, Michigan [Internet]. Hornbeam never grows to a huge size, perhaps six or seven inches through on average. Leaves, twigs, and larger stems are eaten by cottontails, beaver, and white-tailed deer. Carpinus caroliniana Walter – Betulaceae – birch family. 1b. Makes a nice small yard tree, slow growing. been wondering about this tree for more than 50 years, thanks Google! Typically growing into a large shrub or small tree, this species has been known to reach heights of 5-10 m (15-35 ft) and develop trunks 15-30 cm (6-12 in) in diameter. This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Carpinus caroliniana, or Blue Beech, is a member of Betulaceae (the birch family). Hornbeam likes to grow near water or damp conditions. References: Barnes BV, Wagner, WH Jr. 2004. Once you have the look of a Hornbeam inside your head you will always recognize it easily. No matter how you look at it, this tree has confusing names. A heavily seeding tree is between 25 and 50 years old. A natural history of trees of eastern and central North America. Not all of the wild edibles can produce the best-tasting and most plentiful foods, but many can make their small contribution. Any idea what is killing it? It’s doing well and seems happy in its new setting – a little woodland that I planted at the back of our yard. I'm a college performance major looking to purchase a professional piccolo, one where I don't have to buy step-up in a few years. But the usual size is much smaller. Thank You. It is part of the Betulaceae (birch) family and has several nicknames, including blue beech, muscle beech, water beech, muscletree, musclewood, and ironwood. I suspect their great size is primarily due having to reach for the sun among the oaks and poplars. 2014. Authors are solely responsible for the content and accuracy of their sites, including opinions they express, This species has many common names, but the common name Blue-Beech stems from its bark having a strikingly similar look to that of American Beech. Boston (MA): Houghton Mifflin Company 606 p. Skean JD, Nobert HA, Martin LC. However Musclewood is not a true beech species. Some of these shows are available on YouTube and are very well done, with respect for the natural world and appreciation for the knowledge and cultural traditions of people all over the world whose way of life has not yet been completely obliterated by industrialization. Wind can disperse them up to 64 feet from the tree. Dark patches may occur on the bark due to the muscle like ridges that are characteristic of the trunks of this species. It is located at N42.24329°, W084.72828°. The leaf blades are 5-10 cm (2-4 in) long and 2-4 cm (0.75-1.5 in) wide. There are some 33,000 seeds to a pound, though every three to five years the tree will produce larger crops than usual. Ironwood is a synonym of hornbeam. masuzi May 15, 2020 Uncategorized 0. Ironwood firewood is commonly used as a blanket term for several different types of dense firewood producing trees. There is one Musclewood mapped in the arboretum. Foraging should never begin without the guidance and approval of a local plant specialist. Carpinus caroliniana subsp. Available from: Skean JD, Nobert HA, Martin LC. Michigan Flora Online. May I humbly suggest you take a trip to Texas. I want trees rather than multiple trunks so I am pruning them up before I allow them to branch. I too remember musclewood as the common name of American hornbeam growing up in Connecticut. The leaves are alternate with a doubly toothed margin. And so my private woodland has the same trees – blue beech, black gum, sassafrass, spicebush, along with the existing tulip trees, thornless honey locust, cedar, and spruce. Hi John! I watered them well in the first two years and they are thriving. Ironwood tree leaves fall during the drought season. Carpinus is the classical Latin name for the Hornbeam, and comes from “carpentum” a Roman horse-drawn vehicle with hard-wood wheels. Musclewood has many great characteristics: hardiness, pest and insect resistance, lovely bark and limbs, alkaline soil tolerance, 2” to 4” flowers of pendulous leafy green bracts, and superb fall color. There was one on a property my Father owned and later sold. Dr. Green Deane, It appears to have parts of the trunk that wrap around the main trunk, like you could put your elbows inside one another and wrap your arms around each other. The name hornbeam refers to the genuine strength of its wood — it is one of the hardest and strongest woods in North America. Do these trees have a deep taproot or shallow roots, and what extra care to take in digging up and transplanting? Noteworthy Characteristics. Musclewood and Ironwood, names thought to be interchangeable for the same plant species. Information about the common street trees of Albion, Michigan [Internet]. It is no surprise that the strong wood of this tree has given it several other common names; American hornbeam, musclewood, and ironwood. An illustrated flora of the northern United States, Canada and the British Possessions. [cited 9 May-2016]. February 2011. [cited 9 May-2016]. Question There may be several varieties of iron wood. Hop Hornbeam… I have learned my trees (in Illinois and North Carolina) and we refer to Hornbeam- Carpinus caroliniana as “Musclewood”, and Hop Hornbeam- Ostrya virginiana as “Ironwood”. My cousins and I always built forts in them and love the twisted trunk. The lowest branches on the tree spread out well beyond what would be a normal drip edge and I think the top resembled a point, like a Christmas tree, but not as well defined. Wow… I’ve been going to a campsite for 6 years without knowing what that tree was. Ironwood is a common name for many woods or plants that have a reputation for hardness, or specifically a wood density that is heavier than water (approximately 1000 kg/m 3, or 62 pounds per cubic foot), although usage of the name ironwood in English may or may not indicate a … “Male” catkins are not visible until spring, typically 2.5-4 cm (1-1.75 in) long, and are greenish in color. Albion Trees. I have found lots of your species here in Fort Bend County, Texas. Ann Arbor, MI: Univ. Michigan Press 447 p. Michigan Flora Online. We also refer to Musclewood as Blue Beech. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); Disclaimer: Information contained on this website is strictly and categorically intended as a reference to be used in conjunction with experts in your area. And it takes quite a bit of time to cure being that it’s very hard. The tree is at least 22 years old, and probably a good bit older than that. and western Honduras. I live close to Niagara Falls, Ontario and looked in a local park to see what grows naturally in this area. Michigan trees, revised and updated: a guide to the trees of the Great Lakes region. Habitat: Grows on moist, rocky, wooded slopes. Wild Turkey, Squirrel, Cottontails, Ring-Necked Pheasant, Rose Breasted Grosbeak, Downy Woodpecker, and Purple Finch have been observed to feed on the hop-like seeds and buds. and Albion College disclaims any and all liability for that content, its accuracy, and opinions it may contain. 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. As fare goes, the nutlets are neither great nor awful, but they are small, which is why they are diminished by most writers. 1913. Trees are monecious meaning that both “male” and “female” flowers are present on each tree. It is more flexible than hickory and just as tough, I don’t know why everyone thinks oasage orange is the only bow wood. All rights reserved. When I liberated my tree(s) from the woods, I found that they are “sprouts” growing from the roots of another tree. But, it is strong and dense, 45 pounds per cubic foot. As nouns the difference between ironwood and musclewood is that ironwood is (countable) any of a number of tree species known for having a particularly solid wood while musclewood … Peattie, Donald C. 1948. However it occupies different sites than the Hop-Hornbeam tree which is another understory species. Thanks again, This species is highly shade-tolerant, slow growing, and short lived. They can be eaten raw or roasted. Ted Donaho While Carpinus contains 25 species of trees, only the blue beech is native to North America. The existing trees are not what I would have chosen, but trees are precious and so they will remain. I do SASE’s on the ‘seed exchange’ on the gardenweb forum, just message me there (my handle is mersiepoo). Thanks… have you visited the site Foraging Texas? I believe the variety I have here is American hop hornbeam. The bark … Where can I buy hornbeam seeds for eating, hornbeam leaves for making tea or do anything else herbal with hornbeam. [cited 9 May-2016]. The bark of this tree is thin, bluish-gray, and smooth. This is not completely true. Interesting… I’ve found some persimmons near 70 feet tall doing the same thing riverside. British author Ray Mears must have been thinking of the Hornbeam when he said a forager mustn’t pass up food no matter how meager. The small nuts are edible, but seldom used by humans. And so it is with the American Hornbeam, Carpinus caroliniana, (kar-PYE-nus kair-oh-lin-ee-AY-nuh.). Barnes BV, Wagner, WH Jr. 2004. Best wood for bow making from what I’ve read is osage orange wood. My friend, a landscape architect,told me to try this Carpinus caroliniana. Available from:  http://michiganflora.net/home.aspx. The providers of this website accept no liability for the use or misuse of information contained in this website. Carpinus caroliniana, the American hornbeam, is a small hardwood tree in the genus Carpinus.American hornbeam is also known as blue-beech, and musclewood.It is native to eastern North America, from Minnesota and southern Ontario east to Maine, and south to eastern Texas and northern Florida.It also grows in Canada (southwest Quebec and southeast Ontario). Seeds, buds, and or catkins are consumed by many birds: Ruffed grouse, ring-necked pheasants, bobwhite, turkey, ducks and warblers. Boss, & B.S. As for its scientific name, Caroliniana (like Virginiana) means North America, or at least central North America. Must be debarked in the spring when the bark is at its slipperiest. Hornbeam looks taut, cut and buff, as if it goes to the forest gym twice a day and lifts … iron. A.A. Reznicek, E.G. When measured on 24 May 2016, this tree had a diameter at breast height of <2.5 cm, was ca. Seems pretty uniform across the board with the other arborists in my field that I’ve come encountered. I don’t think it has the flexibility for a bow but I am not a bow maker. But the hornbeam has its own special look, and it is of a well-muscled, sinewy tree. Qualities of Ironwood (Also Called "Hornbeam") "American Hornbeam" and "Hop Hornbeam" are hard and strong, especially well suited for tool handles and timber-frame pegs. Squirrels, rabbits, and beaver eat the seeds, wood, and bark. My co-worker and I are teaching a few foraging/survival classes to staff and we are learning Volumes from your website. Available from: http://campus.albion.edu/albiontrees/. as well as bowls and dishes because it does not crack or split or have any flavor. I do have a comment regarding Hornbeam vs. Does the musclewoon wrap around itself? In context|uncountable|lang=en terms the difference between ironwood and musclewood is that ironwood is (uncountable) the wood of any ironwood tree while musclewood is (uncountable) the wood of this species. TIME OF YEAR: Flowers March to May, nutlets late August to winter. Leaves are alternate, simple, and borne singly on short shoots in two rows. Leaves alternate, simple, elliptical to oval, 3 to 5 inches long, smaller on younger trees, pinnately veined, tip tapers to a sharp point, long and short teeth on leaves, smooth green above, paler below. It is also the larval host of several butterflies including the Eastern Tiger Swallowtail, Striped hairstreak, Red-spotted Purple, and Tiger Swallow-tail. Albion Trees. Possibly a guitar neck? Spring catkins and buds are high quality forage for grouse and an important habitat component. I do have a comment regarding Hornbeam vs. Available from. Being exceptionally dense and difficult to work, the wood is primarily used to fashion tough handles for striking implements like hammers. Ironwood vs. Grenadilla vs. Rosewood 17:57 on Tuesday, October 10, 2006 miamigurl123 (7 points) Posted by miamigurl123. In Minnesota, it is found in the understory in forests of maple, basswood, oak, cherry and white birch. I didn’t discover this tree until I retired and moved to the city – and finally have time to “look” at my surroundings. Hop Hornbeam… I have learned my trees (in Illinois and North Carolina) and we refer to Hornbeam- Carpinus caroliniana as “Musclewood”, and Hop Hornbeam- Ostrya virginiana as “Ironwood”. I still have it. While it is not a beech per se, its leaves — which turn orange red in the fall —  can remind one of a beech as can its bark. ), but as I learned last weekend ironwood is an alternate name for at least two other trees.. Ironwood’s official name is eastern hophornbeam (Ostrya virginiana).). Flowers bloom in April-May as the leaves develop. I consider myself as a proverbial green thumb and can get most things to survive but I read it is difficult to transplant so I want to take precautions. Hornbeam Tree Vs Beech. Carpinus caroliniana, commonly called American hornbeam, is a slow-growing, deciduous, small to medium-sized understory tree with an attractive globular form.It is native to Missouri where it is typically found in rich moist woods, valleys, ravine bottoms and rocky slopes along streams throughout the eastern and Ozark regions of the state (Steyermark). I dug about 12″ laterally on both sides of the little tree, cut the lateral root and pulled it up. We are all waiting for the TV show featuring our favorite American forger – Green Deane! IDENTIFICATION: A small tree, nearly shrubby, to 25 feet,rounded crown, twisted trunk. However Musclewood is not a true beech species. Just thought that was interesting and notable, if there were regional differences in the nickname Ironwood for two different species. Ostrya virginiana is a complete different plant species; it is the "true ironwood" and is also known as american hophornbeam. That said the buds are to me the clearest differentiator. Muscelwood is a species that is native to Michigan. Any chance there is a connection? Now, in its third year, (in an unusually hot and dry summer) I still never let it get too dry. Walters. I planted it and mulched, and watered frequently for two years. ENVIRONMENT: Moist areas of established forests, occasionally fields. American hornbeam is also called musclewood because of the sinewy appearance of its smooth gray bark. American Hornbeam, Musclewood, or Ironwood, is a deciduous tree that may grow 30 to feet tall. Carpinus caroliniana trees are a good lesson in the value of using scientific names when referring to different species of plants and animals. It has many common names, the most common include: blue beech because of its very smooth gray bark, and musclewood referring to its muscle-like branches which are irregularly fluted. Scientific Name of Snapdragon and American Hornbeam is used by scientists worldwide. However, it makes a good firewood. They are apetalous, meaning they lack petals, and they are borne in catkins. Boss, & B.S. University of Michigan [Internet]. But you could probably find someone in your area that will kill dry it for you professionally and slowly takes about a week. I have frankly loved this tree for a long time and I have finally found a place to take a couple from the wild and I want to be careful so that I can achieve success in the Transplanting. It used to be favored to make charcoal powder. The “female” catkins are 1.2-1.9 cm (0.5-0.75 in) long and have hairy, greenish scales. Musclewood is a synonym of hornbeam. though the bark does have some medicinal uses and the leaves have been employed as an astringent. Thanks all the wonderful info and reading time you have given me. 4 m tall, and was in fair condition due to a wound at the base of the tree. Seeds of the Hornbeam are an important food for squirrels. The Hornbeam grows throughout eastern North American, from Florida to Quebec, Louisiana north to Ontario  It is also found in Texas, Arkansas, central and southern Mexico, Guatemala. It’s been used for tool handles and support poles and. University of Michigan [Internet]. Seems pretty uniform across the board with the other arborists in my field that I’ve come encountered. Learn how your comment data is processed. If you are still searching for it, this fall I can probably gather some for you, we have the ‘blue beech’ hornbeam, and in fact I was looking around online to identify the trees in order to make the ‘hornbeam’ bach flower remedy for someone. I wanted some instant trees, too so had two large freeman maples planted to hide the neighbour’s balcony. My ironwood tree is dying – leaves have already turned yellow and are falling off. Bot. Have never seen anything but mature , but small shrub like trees . Blue beech (Carpinus caroliniana), also called musclewood or American hornbeam, is a small, slow-growing tree, native to Minnesota and the eastern U.S. Hence its other common name: Musclewood. Cherokee used black locust, and Osage orange. I liberated another one in the woods (sorry, I shouldn’t have, but……). For Robert, [cited 9 May-2016]. Now that I know what it is, you’ve made my camping trips more interesting… Thx . 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. I also have a mimosa that is dying on the opposite side of my house – think it has mimosa wilt. Saw that you mentioned hop hornbeam wouldn’t make a good archery bow. Copyright 2007-2018 – This web page is the property of Green Deane, LLC. Wonder if a bow could be made from this wood? In timberland the Hornbeam is considered a tough weed because it is too small for commercial use. It is also called ironwood for its very dense timber. Ironwood is an excellent food source for Ruffed Grouse and is of equal importance as Aspen and Birch. It can be found naturally in areas with moist soil including streambanks, riverbanks, and maritime forests. Or knife handles or duck calls ? It is indeed a very hard, heavy and stiff wood. In North America there are numerous trees called "Ironwood", here in the East it is usually the American Hornbeam, which is in the beech family (also goes by musclewood, and several other slang) heavy dense, understory tree (not nearly as dense and substantial as western Desert Ironwood). May 14, 2006. First encountered this tough tree in the Kentucky Woodlands portion of what is now The Land Between The Lakes . pbsdonah@hal-pc.org. I bought two tiny trees at a local native plant sale that I am pruning to keep as single trunk trees. The Bach Flower Remedy does somewhat decrease my fatigue, but I need something stronger. This southwestern tree lives in desert habitats and provides shade and food for many species. The flowers are wind-pollinated. It is another important sub-dominant tree that makes up the understory layer of the forest. Not only is it a great nature state to visit, but you have just about written about all the useful plants in Florida (and have started on imported plants, ornamentals and accidentals). Love this website, especially the archives. A.A. Reznicek, E.G. Its other common name Ironwood is used to describe the dense, tough wood of this species. It is too dense to float in water, but burns at a high temperature. To have an upright cultivar with all these attributes is 12: 429. As nouns the difference between musclewood and hornbeam is that musclewood is (botany) a common name for the species carpinus caroliniana , a species of deciduous tree 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. Where I grew up it was called Ironwood or Hornbeam (which means hard tree.) They are elliptical to oblong, sharp pointed, and the margins are sharply doubly serrated with larger teeth at the ends of veins. 3 vols. Ironwood as well. Ray Mears also reports the sprouts are edible. Related to the Alders, Birches, Filberts, and Hophornbeams, the edible part are small nutlets. Carpinus caroliniana is also known as musclewood, ironwood, blue beech, and american hornbeam. You have lots of avid readers here (and neighboring states) and it will extend the life of your blog. 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. The American hornbeam is also occasionally known as blue-beech, ironwood, or musclewood, the first from the resemblance of the bark to that of the American beech Fagus grandifolia, the other two from the hardness of the wood and the muscular appearance of the trunk, respectively. Britton, N.L., and A. My Winter Tree Finder calls it ironwood (it doesn’t even list the hophornbeam name! Ironwood makes excellent firewood because it cures well and burns hot. Hornbeam (Carpinus caroliniana) is an attractive small tree that is common, but not abundant in its natural range. The fruits are small nuts that ripen in mid-summer but are usually persistent until late fall after the leaves have fallen. The desert ironwood tree of Arizona produces one of the heaviest woods in the world. ... American Hornbeam Musclewood Blue Beech Mdc Discover Nature Hornbeam Ironwood Blue Beech Eat The Weeds And Other Things Too Carpinus Betulus Hornbeam Tree Identification Guide Namethatplant Net Hop Hornbeam And My brother-in-law is a bow maker and tells me American Hornbeam will make a good bow. They had only very sparse roots of their own. February 2011. This species has many common names, but the common name Blue-Beech stems from its bark having a strikingly similar look to that of American Beech. The American hornbeam (Carpinus caroliniana) is a deciduous hardwood shade tree that's native to eastern North America. Please direct questions or comments to websupport@albion.edu. Here in the South you’ll hear it called Blue Beech or Water Beech. This wood is excellent for making bows, furniture, or anything else that you want to last forever. Take the papery bracts and rub them between you hands to free the nutlets. (Funny how one tree can have so many slang names!) The Primitave Archer website says it’s #2 with osage-orange being #1. Ray Mears is not just an author, but also has several television series about traditional survival skills and wild foods. However there are no donation records for this species. Seeds, small, quarter to one third inch, ribbed nutlet on a 3-lobed, slightly folded leafy bract (resembles a maple seed), clustered on a long hanging stalk. Likewise I have noticed that birch essential oil does slightly decrease my fatigue, so perhaps other products from the birch family might be helpful also? Brown. I am trying to find the name of a tree that was in my parent’s back yard. Deer will eat the shoots but it is not a preferred food. Are the seeds from the hop horn beam tree edible as well? The Hornbeam, however, is heavily used by beaver because it is common their habitat.