Name: Common: Hop Hornbeam
Scientific: Ostrya Virginiana
Leaf:
Type: simple
Vein:
Pinnate veins
Apex: Pointed tip
Margin: Toothed rigged edges
Base: Round symmetrical base
Arrangement: Alternate
Flower: yes – The flowers occur
as catkins, which stay on the tree through winter, and open in late April
or May.
Fruit: no
Twig: scaly
Bark: Slender, tough, and scaly
Height: 20-50' (6-15 m).
Diameter: 1' (0.3 m).
Leaves: 2-5" (5-13 cm) long, 1-2" (2.5-5
cm) wide
(Taken from enature.com)
DISCUSSION:
“The common name refers to the resemblance of the fruit clusters to
hops, an ingredient of beer. The nutlets and buds are eaten by wildlife,
such as bobwhites, pheasants, grouse, deer, and rabbits. Also called "Ironwood,"
for its extremely hard tough wood which is used for tool handles, small wooden
articles, and fence posts. Planted as an ornamental but slow-growing.”
(www.enature.com)
The leaves are similar to the leaves of ironwood and elms. These trees
were called
Yoke – Elms by European farmers. (www.museum.state.il.us)
The Hop Hornbeam is used mostly in the making of tool handles and fence
posts. The Native Americans used it for almost any kind of sickness. (www.museum.state.il.us)
It is found in all counties of Illinois
Copyright: Contact webmaster@stmarysschool.net
Resources:
http://www.enature.com/fieldguides/detail.asp?allSpecies=y&searchText=hop%20hornbeam&curGroupID=10&lgfromWhere=&curPageNum=1
http://www.museum.state.il.us/muslink/forest/htmls/trees/O-virginiana.html
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