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Ironwood

The Carpinus Caroliniana is commonly known as American Hornbeam, Blue-beech, Ironwood, Muscletree, as well as Water-beech

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Growing Regions

The range of American hornbeam extends from central Maine west to southwestern Quebec, southeastern Ontario, northern Michigan, and northern Minnesota; south to central Iowa and eastern Texas; and east to central Florida [22].

     

General Information

The currently accepted scientific name for American hornbeam is Carpinus caroliniana Walt. (Betulaceae) [3,11,13,22]. Infrataxa are [11]:

Carpinus caroliniana ssp. caroliniana Carpinus caroliniana ssp. virginiana (Marshall) Furlow

American hornbeam primarily occurs in the understory of bottomland
mixed-hardwood forests, but also occurs in dry-mesic upland hardwood
forests [27].  Understory associates of American hornbeam in all parts
of its range include eastern hophornbeam (Ostrya virginiana), flowering
dogwood (Cornus florida), sassafras (Sassafras albidum), witch-hazel
(Hamamelis virginiana), serviceberries (Amelanchier spp.), and speckled
alder (Alnus rugosa).  In the northern parts of its range, understory
associates include striped maple (Acer pennsylvanicum), mountain maple
(A. spicatum), red mulberry (Morus rubra), pawpaw (Asimina triloba),
serviceberries, and eastern redbud (Cercis canadensis).  Southern
associates include magnolias (Magnolia spp.), deciduous holly (Ilex
decidua), American holly (I. opaca), winged elm (Ulmus alata), sweetbay
(Magnolia virginiana), water-elm (Planera aquatica), parsley hawthorn
(Crataegus marshallii), riverflat hawthorn (C. opaca), common persimmon
(Diospyros virginiana), and Carolina laurelcherry (Prunus caroliniana)
[6,27].

Much of the information presented here is attributed to:
Sullivan, Janet. 1994. Carpinus caroliniana. In: Fire Effects Information System, [Online]. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station, Fire Sciences Laboratory (Producer). Available at USDA Forest Service.

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