Ostrya carpinifolia

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European hop-hornbeam
Ostrya carpinifolia 3.jpg
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Rosids
Order: Fagales
Family: Betulaceae
Genus: Ostrya
Species:
O. carpinifolia
Binomial name
Ostrya carpinifolia
Ostrya carpinifolia range.svg
Native range

Ostrya carpinifolia, the European hop-hornbeam, is a tree in the family Betulaceae. It is the only species of the genus Ostrya that is native to Europe.

Contents

The specific epithet carpinifolia means "hornbeam-leaved", from carpinus , the Latin word for "hornbeam".

Distribution

Fruits of Ostrya carpinifolia - MHNT Ostrya carpinifolia MHNT.BOT.2004.0.156.jpg
Fruits of Ostrya carpinifoliaMHNT

Ostrya carpinifolia is found in Lebanon, Italy, France, Austria, Slovenia, Albania, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Greece, Bulgaria, southern Switzerland and Turkey. It is found in the medium elevations, in southern Italy and Sicily, in the South Apennine mixed montane forests ecoregion of the Mediterranean forests, woodlands, and scrub Biome.

The wood of Ostrya carpinifolia Ostrya carpinifolia legno.jpg
The wood of Ostrya carpinifolia

Description

Ostrya carpinifolia is a broadleaf deciduous tree, that can reach up to 24 metres (79 ft). It has a conical or irregular crown and a scaly, rough bark, and alternate and double-toothed birch-like leaves 3–10 cm long.

The flowers are produced in spring, with male catkins 5–10 cm (2–4 in) long and female catkins 2–5 cm (34–2 in) long. The fruit form in pendulous clusters 3–8 cm (1+143+14 in) long with 6–20 seeds; each seed is a small nut 2–4 mm (116316 in) long, fully enclosed in a bladder-like involucre.

Uses

The wood is very heavy and hard, and was historically used to fashion plane soles.

Ostrya are used as food plants by the larvae of some Lepidoptera species.

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