Blue Beech

Carpinus caroliniana

Classification

Kingdom Plantae Plants

Subkingdom Tracheobionta Vascular plants

Superdivision Spermatophyta Seed plants

Division Magnoliophyta Flowering plants

Class Magnoliopsida Dicotyledons

Subclass Hamamelididae

Order Fagales

Family Betulaceae Birch Family

Genus Carpinus L. hornbeam

Species Carpinus caroliniana Walter

Blue Beech

Figure 1: Classification Table

Shape, Form, Type

The Blue Beech tree may grow for 20 to 30 feet, and may spread as wide to 20 to 30 feet. It is oval in shape and symmetrical in form, its growth rate is slow, and it has a medium texture. [1]

Figure 2: Blue Beech tree

Bark and Twig

The bark of the Blue Beech Tree is muscle-like, smooth, gray and fluted.

[2]

The twigs are of a reddish, brown color, and they are usually thin and droopy. [2]

Figure 3: Bark of Blue Beech Tree

Figure 4: Blue Beech tree twig

Leaf

The leaves of a Blue Beech tree are pinnately simple, the blade varies from 2 to 4 inches, the shape is ovate or oblong, they are toothed along the edge, and the arrangement is alternate. The underside of the leaf may be hairy or smooth. The color of the leaf is green and it varies from red, yellow, and orange, in the fall. [2]

Figure 5: Blue Beech tree leaves

Bud

The bud of the Blue Beech tree is ovate in shape, usually a chestnut brown color. They tend to be one-eighth of an inch long.[3]

Figure 6: Bud of Blue Beech tree

Flower and Fruit

The Blue Beech flower can be orange or yellow, then tend to not be showy and are inconspicuous.[4]

The Fruit of the Blue Beech Tree are elongated and oval in shape, and vary from .5 to 1 inch long, they are dry and hard and brown in color. They attract birds and squirrels and are not showy. [4]

Figure 7: Flower of Blue Beech tree

Figure 8: Fruit of Blue Beech tree

Habitat and Range

The Blue Beech tree is native to eastern United States up to Canada, its extends westward just beyond the Mississippi River from north-central Minnesota to the Missouri River. It grows throughout the south down to the Gulf Coastal Plain. It is also found in central and southern Mexico, Guatemala, and western Honduras. [5]

Figure 9: the range of Blue Beech tree

Uses

The wood of a Blue Beech is strong and hard, but the tree is too small to be harvested for the manufacture of wood products. The wood is good for tool handles, levers, and mallets, and it’s a good food source for gray Squirrels. [6]

Figure 10: Mallets made of Blue Beech tree

References of data

1. Shape, form, and type- 2009. University of Florida. Date Retrieved: 6/22/2010 http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/st120

2. Bark , Twig, leaf- o University of Florida. Date Retrieved: 6/22/2010 o http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/st120

3. Bud- 2010. Wikipedia. Date retrieved 6/22/2010

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carpinus_caroliniana

4. Flower and Fruit- 1993. Edward f. Gilman. Dennis g. Watson. Date retrieved 6/22/2010

http://hort.ufl.edu/trees/CARCARA.pdf

5. Habitat and Range- 2010. F. T. Metzger. Date retrieved: 6/22/2010

http://na.fs.fed.us/pubs/silvics_manual/volume_2/carpinus/caroliniana.htm

6. Uses- 2010. Blue beech. Carpinus caroliniana. Date Retrieved: 6/22/2010

http://www.museum.state.il.us/muslink/forest/htmls/trees/C-caroliniana.html

References of Pictures

Figure 1:Classification Table- 2010. Plants Topics. USDA. Date Retrieved: 6/22/2010.

http://plants.usda.gov/java/ClassificationServlet?source=profile&symbol=CACA18&display=31 Figure 2: Blue Beech Tree-

2010. Town of Huntersville. Tree List. Date retrieved: 6/22/2010. http://www.huntersville.org/interactive%20ordinance/Zoning_TOCtree.htm

Figure 3: Bark of Blue Beech Tree- 2006. L. Rosenberg. Date retrieved: 6/22/2010.

http://www.muhlenberg.edu/cultural/graver/Collections/WetlandPlants/Bluebeech.htm Figure 4: Blue Beech tree twig-

2010. ODNR. Carpinus caroliniana. Date Retrieved: 6/22/2010 http://www.dnr.state.oh.us/forestry/trees/beech_bl/tabid/5337/Default.aspx

Figure 5: Blue Beech leaves- 2006. Stephen M. Sieberling. Date Retrieved: 6/22/2010.

http://www.ibiblio.org/openkey/intkey/web/CACA18.htm Figure 6: Bud of Blue Beech-

2000. Plant Taxonomy. Key to Winter Twigs. Date Retrieved: 6/22/2010 http://www.una.edu/faculty/pgdavison/Twig%20Key.htm

Figure 7: Flower of Blue Beech Tree- 2006. Steve Baskauf. Date Retrieved: 6/22/2010

http://www.cas.vanderbilt.edu/bioimages/species/caca18.htm Figure 8: Fruit of Blue Beech Tree-

2010. Woody Plant Seed Manual. Date retrieved; 6/22/2010. http://www.nsl.fs.fed.us/wpsm/photos.html

Figure 9: Range of Blue Beech tree- 2010. Western North Carolina Nature Center. Date Retrieved: 6/22/2010.

http://www.wildwnc.org/education/trees/american-hornbeam-carpinus-caroliniana-betulaceae-birch-family Figure 10: mallets made from Blue Beech-

2010. The Best things. Traditional Wooden Carver’s and Joiner’s Mallets. Date Retrieved: 6/22/2010. http://www.thebestthings.com/newtools/wooden_mallets.htm