Common hornbeam

Značilnosti

Carpinus betulus, the European or common hornbeam, is a species of tree in the birch family Betulaceae.

Opis

Na habitatu Temenica

It is a deciduous small to medium-size tree reaching heights of 15–25 metres, rarely 30 m, and often has a fluted and crooked trunk. The bark is smooth and greenish-grey, even in old trees. The buds, unlike those of the beech, are 10 mm long at the most, and pressed close to the twig. The leaves are alternate, 4–9 cm long, with prominent veins giving a distinctive corrugated texture, and a serrated margin. It is monoecious, and the wind-pollinated male and female catkins appear in early summer after the leaves. The fruit is a small 7–8 mm long nut, partially surrounded by a three-pointed leafy involucre 3–4 cm long; it matures in autumn. The wood is heavy and hard, and is used for tools and building constructions. It also burns hot and slowly, making it very suitable for firewood. This was the reason for lopping and hence indirectly the saving of Epping Forest, where the hornbeam was a favoured pollarding tree. It grows well on rich, fresh and moderately moist soils, but can also grow on flooded soils. It does not tolerate well-compacted soils, but tolerates shady positions well.

Source: lifehabitats.com