Carpinus betulus

The leaves are alternate, 4–9 cm (1.6–3.5 in) long, with prominent veins giving a distinctive corrugated texture, and a serrated margin.Three fossil fruits of Carpinus betulus have been extracted from borehole samples of the Middle Miocene fresh water deposits in Nowy Sacz Basin, West Carpathians, Poland.[3] Carpinus betulus likes full sun or partial shade,[5] moderate soil fertility and moisture.[6] Carpinus betulus is widely cultivated as an ornamental tree, for planting in gardens and parks throughout north west Europe.[5][8] As early as Roman times, but also during the Thirty Years' War, defensive hedges (Landwehr) in Central Europe were largely planted from hornbeams.In the 11th century, for example, the Electorate of Mainz set up a large defensive forest called the Rheingauer Gebück [de].[11] This was the reason for lopping and hence indirectly the saving of Epping Forest, where the hornbeam was a favoured pollarding tree.
Hornbeam catkins
Bark of a mature tree
Old hornbeam coppice stools left uncut for at least 100 years. Coldfall Wood , London
Carpinus betulus 'Fastigiata' in Dublin , Ireland where it is a common street tree
Mature Carpinus betulus 'Fastigiata' in Eindhoven , Netherlands
Conservation statusLeast ConcernIUCN 3.1Scientific classificationPlantaeTracheophytesAngiospermsEudicotsRosidsFagalesBetulaceaeCarpinusBinomial namespeciesfamilynativeCarpinus orientalisCarpinus austrobalcanicacatkinsleavesmonoeciousinvolucrecoppicedpollardedancient woodlandsHertfordshirewood pasturesEpping ForestHalltorps hageÖland, SwedenfossilboreholeMiddle MioceneNowy SaczWest CarpathiansPolandColdfall Woodsoil fertilityLepidopteracase-bearerColeophora anatipennelladeath-cap mushroomAmanita princepsDublinEindhovenornamental treelandscape gardeninghedgestopiaryFrench formal gardensbosquetsGardens of Versaillesgarden wildernesscultivarsRoyal Horticultural SocietyAward of Garden MeritThirty Years' WarLandwehrdog rosesElectorate of MainzHildegard of BingenvitiligoBach flower remediescalorific valueBattle of Delville WoodDelville Wood South African National MemorialLonguevalPresident LincolnUnited States Botanic GardenPoundburytree protection tubeWayback MachineEuropean Forest Genetic Resources ProgrammeWikidataWikispeciesEcocropiNaturalistMoBotPFNatureServeObservation.orgOpen Tree of LifePlant ListTropicos