A tree in Kentucky

American hornbeam - Jenny Wiley State Park

This Kentucky tree is the American Hornbeam, Carpinus caroliniana. The American Hornbeam is a small tree with one or more trunks that are angled with a broad, rounded crown. The elliptical leaves are 2 inches to  4 ½ inches in length and 1 inch to 2 ½ inches wide.  The leaf edge is saw toothed. The bark is blue-gray, thin, smooth and is “muscle like” in its appearance.  In some areas the tree is called “ Muscle Wood." The fruit is leaf like, three pointed and hangs on slender stalks in clusters. These hairy, greenish nutlets mature in late Spring. The word “Hornbeam” is from the words “horn” for toughness and “beam” for tree. This tree is a member of the birch family; however, many people talk of it as a beech tree because of its smooth bark.