Eastern Hop Hornbeam

Ostrya virginiana (Mill.) K. Koch)
(OSS-tree-uh vir-gin-ee-AN-uh)

General:

Hop Hornbeam is a small, deciduous tree that grows to 20 m. (60 ft.) in height with a rounded canopy. It is considered a weedy tree of little importance. The weeds provide food for wildlife. The close grained wood is hard and tough, and it is occasionally used for tool handles.

Flowers/Fruit:

Separate male and female flowers form in catkins. The reddish brown, staminate (male) catkins are about 1-1.5 cm (1/2 in.) long. The pistillate (female) catkins are half the length and have light green scales. The fruits are nutlets enclosed within inflated papery brackts that appear similar to hops, thus the common name.

Leaves/Stems:

The alternate, simple, 2 ranked leaves have doubly serrated margins. They are elliptic in shape with pinnate veins. The leaves are 5-13 cm. (2-5 in.) long and smooth, blue-green above. The lower surface has tufts of white hair at the main vein axils. The slender petioles are pubescent. The reddish brown bark shreds into narrow strips. More mature bark turns gray to brown,

Distribution:

Found in moist woodlands, Hope Hornbeam's Florida range is north Florida south to Hernando and Marion Counties. It also ranges from Texas up to Nova Scotia.