Ostrya virginiana
Picture coming soon – Spring 2012
Owner: Steve & Anita Buehner
Nominator: Steve & Anita Buehner
Height: 21.7 m (71.2 ft)
Diameter: 41.62 cm (16.4 in)
Circumference: 130.7 cm (51.5 in)
Description
The Hop Hornbeam is also commonly known as Ironwood, and gets its name from its very hard wood which is stronger than white oak and second only to hickory in weight. It is native to southern Ontario, Quebec, New Brunswick and Nova Scotia and the eastern United States south to Florida and west to Iowa and Texas. Hop Hornbeams prefer sites with moist, fertile sandy soils. It is a small tree that usually grows to about 12 m in height. Often found as an understory tree, preferring shade, it also grows well in full sun. This tree has several distinguishing features including its fruit which are encased in papery sacs that overlap in hanging clusters said to resemble the fruit of the hop vine used in brewing beer, hence the name ‘hop-hornbeam’. The leaves are similar to elm leaves, about 7-12 cm long and have sharp teeth of different sizes giving the appearance of a saw edge. Its bark is greg and broken into strips that are loose at both ends, giving it a shaggy appearance. The wood is very hard and though the tree is too small to be used commercially, it has been used to create tool handles, fence posts, ox yokes, wheels and axels. It also makes excellent firewood. (Source: Focus on Forests )
Hop Hornbeam leaves and seed clusters
(Source: University of Connecticut)