Carpinus Caroliniana Musclewood - All That You Always Wanted to Know



Posted: Thursday, October 15, 2009

by Dennis Sons
tn nursery

Carpinus Caroliniana is also popular by the names of American hornbeam, Musclewood and Ironwood. The growth rate of this tree is slow and it is deciduous. It requires wet to moist soil for its growth, combined with a lot of sun and some shade. It is a considered to be a good street tree but it is not possible to transplant it. The trunk has the appearance of a sculpture, and the wood is hard with fluted, smooth ridges, small, short, and sinewy with muscle like bulges.

The irregular rigid trunk, with the grey bark that is smooth and looks like a limb with muscles is the reason for this tree getting the name "Musclewood". The leaves are simple and alternate with the teeth of various sizes appearing irregular in shape. The colors of the leaf are orange, yellow and scarlet fall. The paired fruits have leafy bracts attached to them in a very distinctive way. The buds in cross section are four angled with ciliate, brown scales, because of this Carpinus Caroliniana is often mistaken as a shrub, but it has the growth form of a small tree. The branches are long, slender and spreading all over.

Carpinus Caroliniana is in abundance in the eastern part of the United States. Rather than being in the wetter swamps these trees, grow on the banks, or terraces, or near streams. It has a red orange fall color, grows up to 20 to 30 feet in height, and is able to withstand shade. The width of the tree is about the same as well. The tree needs protection from rotting by not letting fungus attack it; this could prove to be very harmful especially if it is hanging over homes or play areas. The tree rots internally too and this is apparent when you cut the wood.

The fruit color is green and the breeding system is monoecious. The bloom time is March, April and May. It requires sandy, deep soils, moist, sandy loams, rich, medium loam, clay, clay loam and acid based soils. It has a low tolerance level to CaC03. Carpinus Caroliniana attracts birds and butterflies to it. Collect the nutlets in summer or early fall. Uses of the wood from this plant are many, like making local tools like handles for striking and levers.

In nurseries, these trees are available in small and medium sizes along with instructions to help with their growth, protection and maintenance. If you are to plant Carpinus Caroliniana Musclewood at home, then make sure you have a large yard or garden. The fruit and flower look like a nutlet and are papery like in texture. The form of the tree is round top or flat and it spreads widely. The tree is good for landscaping. Sometimes the tree grows up to 35 to 50 feet in height. Grouse, quail and pheasants eat the nutlets while the deer eat the twigs and foliage. The tree is a part of the birch family.

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