Missouri Department of Conservation
Home » Discover Nature » Field Guide

American Hornbeam (Musclewood)

1 of 2
1 of 2
Carpinus caroliniana
Family: 
Betulaceae (birches)
Description: 

A tall shrub or small tree, to 35 feet tall, with pendulous branches and a gray trunk that is fluted into musclelike ridges.

Leaves simple, alternate, 2–5 inches long, 1–2 inches wide, with upper surface bluish green, dull; undersurface paler, mostly smooth, or with hairs in vein axils only, margins with small sharp teeth.

Bark smooth, tight, thin, bluish-gray, sometimes blotched, fluted into muscle-like ridges, hence the other common name, “musclewood.”

Twigs slender, gray or red, zigzag, with small buds.

Flowers April–May; in catkins, with male and female on the same twig.

Fruit in long, hanging clusters of paired 3-lobed bracts (modified leaves), with each pair of bracts having a nutlet at its base.

Size: 
Height: to 35 feet.
Habitat and conservation: 
A common indicator plant of Missouri’s upland forests. Found in north-facing bluffs, rich woods at bases of bluffs, rocky slopes along streams, ravine bottoms, low wooded valleys and moist woodlands. An understory tree that rarely grows much higher than 20 feet in the wild and often grows in clumps of several trunks.
Distribution in Missouri: 
Found nearly throughout the state, except for the northern and eastern sections where trees cover less of the landscape.
Human connections: 
Musclewood deserves to be planted more widely as a shade tree. Its sinewy, smooth gray bark adds real interest, and the leaves are attractive in summer and fall. Because it is exceptionally strong and hard, the wood has been made into golf clubs, handles, fuels, cogs, levers, wedges and more.
Ecosystem connections: 
The seed is eaten by birds, including bobwhite and wild turkey, and the catkins and buds are a primary food source for ruffed grouse. Mammals ranging from rodents and rabbits to fox and deer browse the seeds, bark, wood and twigs.

Other Content You May Like

  • Corkwood

    This rare and unusual small tree doesn’t have a problem with having its feet wet for long periods of time, but it grows rarer as its swampy habitat is converted to cropland.

  • Black Haw

    This small understory tree has beautiful fall color: deep lavender or maroon-purple, finally becoming deep rose-red, contrasting with clusters of blue-black berries, borne on red stalks, that happen to be quite tasty. No wonder it has been cultivated as an ornamental since 1727!

  • Bush Honeysuckles

    If you’ve got a giant green thicket in your woods, you may have a bush honeysuckle infestation. These invasive plants are shrubby natives of Asia. Here in America, where they have no natural controls, they leaf out early, grow fast, spread fast and form dense thickets that crowd out Missouri’s native forest plants.

  • Eastern Red Cedar

    By far the most common native conifer in the state, eastern red cedar is useful for its aromatic, red wood and beloved for its greenery, its resinous blue “berries” and the spicy odor it lends the out-of-doors.

  • Possum Haw

    Possum haw is the more common of two native Missouri hollies that lose their leaves each fall. This shrub or small tree is eye-catching in the fall and winter when the bright red berries persist on the gray and brown branches and twigs.

  • Prairie Crab Apple

    An attractive, small, ornamental tree with low, crooked branches and attractive spring flowers. Its hard, bitter fruits can be used in making tasty jellies, cider and vinegar.

  • Hop Hornbeam

    The “hop” in the name is for this tree’s fruits, which are clusters of flattened, papery, scalelike sacs arranged in an overlapping pattern, like scales on a pinecone—resembling the hops that beer is made from. Though we can’t make beer from this hornbeam, ruffed grouse depend on it for winter food.

MDC's Mission, Vision, Priorities

MDC protects and manages Missouri's fish, forest, and wildlife resources.

We also facilitate your participation in resource-management activities, and we provide opportunities for you to use, enjoy and learn about nature.

Find out more

Natural Areas
Shortened URL
http://mdc.mo.gov/node/4733
Serving Nature and You

MDC protects and manages Missouri's fish, forest, and wildlife resources.
We also facilitate your participation in resource-management activities, and we provide opportunities for you to use, enjoy and learn about nature.

Featured Pic

Check out the featured picture and other images at the MDC Media Gallery

Visit the media gallery
Popular Topics

Follow MDC on Twitter Facebook YouTube Flickr Pinterest Slideshare MDC RSS feeds

© 2013 Conservation Commission of Missouri. All rights reserved.