Ostrya virginiana
Table of Contents
Common Names: Eastern Hop Hornbeam, Ironwood
Scientific Classification
| Kingdom: Plantae |
| Phylum: Tracheophyta |
| Class: Magnoliopsida |
| Order: Fagales |
| Family: Betulaceae |
| Genus: Ostrya |
| Species: Ostrya virginiana |
Conservation Status
Identifying Features
Eastern hop hornbeam is a small tree, reaching up to 50 feet tall.
The bark is brown-gray, has a shredded appearance, and vertical lines.
Leaves are alternate and simple. They’re 1-5" long, tear-shaped, double-toothed, and veins are parallel and forked. In fall, the leaves turn yellow.
Habitat & Range
Eastern hop hornbeams are found throughout the eastern half of the United States.
Life Cycle
Fruit of this tree is a hanging cluster with nuts, with a smilar appearance to a hop used in the beer-making process.
Featured image by James Dake.
Related
Carpinus caroliniana
American Hornbeam
Betula lenta
Black Birch
Betula papyrifera
Paper Birch