Hornbeam

genus of plants

Hornbeams are hardwood trees. They are in the plant genus Carpinus in the family Betulaceae. They occur in the temperate zone of the Northern Hemisphere.

Hornbeam
Temporal range: 49.42 mya
Eocene–present
European hornbeam foliage
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Rosids
Order: Fagales
Family: Betulaceae
Subfamily: Coryloideae
Genus: Carpinus
L.
Synonyms

Distegocarpus Siebold & Zucc

The American hornbeam is sometimes known as blue-beech, ironwood, or musclewood.

The botanical name for the genus, Carpinus, is the original Latin name for the European species. The fossil record of the genus goes back to the early Eocene of northwestern North America. The species Carpinus perryae is known from fossil fruits found in the Klondike Mountain Formation of Republic, Washington.[1]

References

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  1. Pigg, K.B.; Manchester, S.R.; Wehr, W.C. (2003). "Corylus, Carpinus, and Palaeocarpinus (Betulaceae) from the Middle Eocene Klondike Mountain and Allenby Formations of Northwestern North America". International Journal of Plant Sciences. 164 (5): 807–822.