Plant · GBIF taxon 2875842
American hornbeam
Carpinus carolinianaAlso known as Blue Beech, Ironwood, Musclewood, Muscle Beech
American hornbeam thrives in the shady understory of eastern floodplains and moist hardwood forests, recognized by smooth slate-grey bark with fluted, sinewy ridges. Leaves turn brilliant shades of orange, yellow, and red in autumn, while hanging clusters of three-lobed leafy bracts cradle small nutlets. Extremely dense, heavy wood gives this slow-growing tree exceptional strength against river floods and ice storms.
DeciduousNative TreeRiparian
1 / 7—observations
—countries
—peak records
Least ConcernConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXLeast ConcernRed List categories, explained →
Diet & prey
- Autotrophic (Photosynthesis)
Predators
- Beavers
- White-tailed Deer
- Wood-boring Beetles
ThreatsHabitat loss, invasive pests, extreme drought
HabitatsMoist river banks, rich bottomlands, shaded understories, hardwood forests
Life span100 to 150 years
Size / weightNot available
Classification
- FamilyBetulaceae
- SpeciesCarpinus caroliniana
Range data is not available yet.
Interaction riskLow
- Low
- Moderate
- High
- Very high
- Why interaction risk is low
- Safe to observe at a normal distance.
Responsible observation
- Trunk Identification: Look for smooth grey bark with prominent, sinewy ridges that resemble flexed muscle tissue.
- Fruit Observation: Inspect dangling clusters of leafy, three-lobed bracts holding small nutlets in late summer.
- Fall Foliage: Visit damp woods in mid-autumn to appreciate its brilliant yellow, orange, and deep red leaf coloration.
Look-Alike (c) Douglas Goldman, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA), uploaded by Douglas Goldman · cc-by-sa
Co-occurring Tree (c) Douglas Goldman, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA), uploaded by Douglas Goldman · cc-by-sa
Close Relative (c) Zo Clark, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Zo Clark · cc-by
Family Member (c) Douglas Goldman, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA), uploaded by Douglas Goldman · cc-by-sa
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