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. 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. Available from. Brown. I believe the variety I have here is American hop hornbeam. Dark patches may occur on the bark due to the muscle like ridges that are characteristic of the trunks of this species. Dr. Green Deane, 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 … They are elliptical to oblong, sharp pointed, and the margins are sharply doubly serrated with larger teeth at the ends of veins. (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. Carpinus caroliniana, or Blue Beech, is a member of Betulaceae (the birch family). I still have it. ... 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 ), 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).). 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. Hornbeam likes to grow near water or damp conditions. Or knife handles or duck calls ? Hornbeam (Carpinus caroliniana) is an attractive small tree that is common, but not abundant in its natural range. My ironwood tree is dying – leaves have already turned yellow and are falling off. However it occupies different sites than the Hop-Hornbeam tree which is another understory species. Information about the common street trees of Albion, Michigan [Internet]. Once you have the look of a Hornbeam inside your head you will always recognize it easily. February 2011. [cited 9 May-2016]. This southwestern tree lives in desert habitats and provides shade and food for many species. Possibly a guitar neck? It is also called ironwood for its very dense timber. [cited 9 May-2016]. They can be eaten raw or roasted. Trees are monecious meaning that both “male” and “female” flowers are present on each tree. A heavily seeding tree is between 25 and 50 years old. As fare goes, the nutlets are neither great nor awful, but they are small, which is why they are diminished by most writers. University of Michigan [Internet]. Musclewood and Ironwood, names thought to be interchangeable for the same plant species. Ted Donaho Thank You. Deer will eat the shoots but it is not a preferred food. Michigan Flora Online. 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). I have found lots of your species here in Fort Bend County, Texas. May 14, 2006. Musclewood is a synonym of hornbeam. The leaf blades are 5-10 cm (2-4 in) long and 2-4 cm (0.75-1.5 in) wide. Boston (MA): Houghton Mifflin Company 606 p. Skean JD, Nobert HA, Martin LC. Related to the Alders, Birches, Filberts, and Hophornbeams, the edible part are small nutlets. 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