Taxonomy
| Clade | angiosperm |
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| Family | Betulaceae |
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| Genus | Ostrya |
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| Species | virginiana |
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| Common Name | ironwood, hophornbeam |
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| iTree Code | OSVI |
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Plant Form
| Form | Tree: |
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| Height | 30 feet |
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| Spread | 15 feet |
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| Deciduous | Yes |
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Identification Description
| Foliage | green, oblong to oval with pointed tip, doubly serrated, short petiole |
Leaf Type
 |
Simple |
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| Bark | tan/brown with thin vertical strips |
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| Bud | brown/red, or green, pointed, with overlapping scales (imbricate) |
Bud Arrangement
|
Alternate |
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| Twig | slender, light gray to tannish brown or reddish brown, zig-zag appearance |
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| Flower | male: performed catkins in group of 3, green tinged with red: female: catkins develop singly from new growth, greenish with red stigmas; male and female on same trees (monoecious) |
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| Fruit | nutlet inside an air-bladder, groups stacked in hanging clusters, noticeably hairy |
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| Fall Color | yellow |
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Site Characteristics
| USDA Zones
|
pH Levels | Salt Tolerance |
| Min | 3a |
Min | 4.1 |
Soil | Intolerant |
| Max | 11a |
Max | 7.5 |
Spray | Intolerant |
| Shade Tolerance | Drought Tolerance | Allelopathy |
| Tolerant |
Moderate |
No |
Species Status
| Nebraska Native |
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| U.S. Native |
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| Region of Origin | United States, Canada, Mexico |
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| More Information | Visit External Site |
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