Hornbeam ornamental trees and shrubs. Hornbeam: what it looks like, where it grows

The hornbeam is a tree from the birch family with a life expectancy of up to 300 years. During this time, it can grow to a height of up to 30 meters, while its trunk diameter is not large, within 40 cm. It grows in almost the entire mainland of Europe, it is common in Asia Minor, the Caucasus and Transcaucasia, the Iranian Highlands. It grows slowly, preferring deciduous forests. Sometimes you can find pure stands, and in Transcaucasia it rises to a height of 2000 meters and above.

The hornbeam belongs to monoecious plants. It blooms in April-May with male and female flowers in the form of earrings. Fruits in September-October. The fruits are small brown, shiny nuts, 3-6 mm in size. In one kilogram of collected nuts, there can be from 30 to 35 thousand small nuts.

It has a very hard, abrasion resistant wood. In the process of growth, the hornbeam trunk is bent and becomes unsuitable for construction, but nevertheless, its wood has been very much appreciated since ancient times. It was used in foundry, blacksmithing and jewelry. The wood of this tree gives a smokeless flame, which allowed it to be used in bakeries and potteries. Its strong and durable wood has been and is used to this day for the manufacture of handles for various tools, ax handles, and various combs. At the moment, billiard cue, cutting boards, flooring, parquet, all kinds of machines and other everyday items are produced from it.

Despite the fact that the hornbeam is strong and durable, without additional external protection it quickly loses its characteristics. At the same time, it is very easy to paint and process with other protective chemicals.

Leaves and especially young shoots of this tree can be fed to livestock. The bark is used for tanning skins, and essential oils are extracted from the leaves, which are used in modern cosmetology. From the fruits of the hornbeam, an oil is produced that can be used in cooking.

This tree has not been ignored by medicine. Hornbeam bark and leaves contain a large proportion of tannins, aldehydes, gallic and caffeic acids, bioflavonoids, coumarins, essential oils and ascorbic acid. The composition of the fruit includes vegetable fats. With improper blood circulation and neoplasia of the brain, infusions from the flowers of this tree are used. Young shoots are an integral part of the medicinal collection used for infertility and complications during pregnancy. In the same way, an infusion of the leaves is used for diarrhea. The juice of this tree contains a lot of sugar and organic substances.

He is assigned truly miraculous properties: according to esotericists, he is able to influence a person’s thoughts, and his tree encourages correct actions and deeds. Leaning against a tree trunk, you can recharge your batteries and stay alert and energetic for a long time.

The hornbeam propagates by seeds, but can also be propagated by cuttings and branches. Seeds are sown immediately after they are collected in the fall, but you can also the next year. Seeds are well preserved in paper or plastic bags lasting 2-3 years. In this case, before landing, it is necessary to carry out some preparation. To this end, they are kept at a temperature of +20°C for 15-60 days, and then at a temperature of 1-10°C for 90-120 days. After that, the seeds can be sown immediately or germinated at a temperature of +20°C. In this case, guaranteed seedlings will be obtained. The cuttings take root very quickly. The hornbeam is fairly resistant to diseases and pests.

The hornbeam is not whimsical to lighting conditions: it can grow well both in open areas and in the shade. But he is picky about the soil and prefers well-fertilized, with sufficient moisture, soil. It is frost-resistant and wind-resistant, perfectly adapts to urban conditions. It can tolerate lack of moisture, but in very dry periods requires constant watering.

Hornbeam varieties

There are more than 30 species of this plant in the world, most of which are common in Asia. Europe boasts only two species, and Russia only three. Common types include:

Widely popularized in Asia Minor, the Caucasus, Iran, and the Crimea. This tree is about 5 meters high, but higher specimens can be found. Often you can find whole thickets of the Caucasian hornbeam - hornbeam. Often grows next to oak, beech and chestnut.

It has leaves similar at the base to the heart, which is why it got its name. This tree about 10-20 meters high can be found in the South-East of Primorsky Krai, Korea, China and Japan. Here they prefer the area at the foot of the mountains with heights from 200 to 300 meters and occupy the second tier of mixed shady forests. Insanely beautiful and unique deciduous tree.

Its habitat is eastern North America. Here it can be found near the banks of rivers and along the outskirts of swamps. Its height can reach 5-6 meters, and the trunk diameter is 150 mm. Very often you can find a bushy form of the Caroline hornbeam.

Hornbeam Virginian. One of the subspecies of the Caroline hornbeam and grows in the southeast of North America. You can also find bushy forms of this species with a bush height of about 4 meters and a crown with a diameter of about 400 cm. This tree is widely used in landscape design. Due to the fact that it grows slowly, it is able to maintain a decorative shape for a long time: from round to square or pyramidal-trapezoidal. It tolerates haircuts and transplants very well. With the help of plantings of this plant, you can easily form decorative hedges or living sculptures, as well as create entire landscape paintings.

The hornbeam is a small deciduous tree belonging to the Birch family. It grows in the countries of the Northern Hemisphere, in Russia it can be seen in the North Caucasus and in the Crimea. The etymology of the word "hornbeam" is now difficult to determine, there is an opinion that it comes from the Indo-European gereb - cutting, scratching. The tree is indeed distinguished by durable wood, from which in the old days parts of looms and water mills were made.

General data and description

There are several types of hornbeam in the world - ordinary, Shusha, Chonoski, heart-leaved, rare-flowered, Japanese, oriental, and they all grow in the Northern Hemisphere. In Europe there are only 2, while in Asia most of the species of this tree are found.

In the photo, an ordinary hornbeam:

Hornbeam loves loose, fertile calcareous soil. As for moisture, some types of hornbeam feel great on dry soils, while others, on the contrary, love good moisture.

The types of hornbeam also differ in shade tolerance. Species that can survive in the shade and partial shade give numerous basal offspring, light-loving hornbeams rarely give them.

A hornbeam grows in the form of a tree, sometimes a large shrub. Longitudinal ribs are noted on the trunks, the bark is smooth, or with small cracks, gray in color. The crown is dense, consisting of many thin branches.

The leaves of the common hornbeam are oval, with clearly visible veins, serrated, up to 10 cm long, in general they look very beautiful:

They are green in summer and turn yellow or purple in autumn.

The plant is monoecious, the female flowers are pollinated by the wind, the female catkins bloom at the same time as the leaves. Fruits are woody, one-seeded, appear annually. The tree grows slowly, fruiting begins at 15-20 years.

The common hornbeam grows up to 30 meters in height, the crown diameter is about 9 meters, the trunk diameter is up to 60-80 cm.

The root system extends superficially, but it is quite branched, so the tree is resistant to strong winds.

In a garden or in a park, a tree can be planted in groups or singly, and decorative figures can be created from its dense crown - the hornbeam tolerates pruning well, and it grows slowly, keeps its shape for a long time. The tree is also suitable for creating bonsai.

The use of a hornbeam

The tree has grey-white wood that takes a long time to dry and may crack during this period. It is difficult to polish, it is difficult to process with tools, it quickly rots if it is not treated with protective substances in time.

But with the right approach and adherence to technology, a lot of useful and necessary things can be made from hornbeam - musical instruments, combs, ax handles, knife handles and other tools, veneer, elements of lathes and looms, parquet. But hornbeam flooring is not the best option, because it can deform due to fluctuations in humidity. Hornbeam is used to produce keys for pianos, billiard cues, cutting boards, and furniture.

Jewelry masters of various eras made jewelry and amulets from hornbeam to protect against invisible enemies and misfortunes. And today you can buy earrings, bracelets and beads made of hornbeam of various designs - both in ethnic style and high-tech style. See photo:

Hornbeam firewood has a unique property - to give a flame without smoke, thanks to which it is used in bakeries, pottery workshops, catering establishments for cooking meat dishes and smoking meat and fish products.

Leaves, young shoots are fed to livestock - they are given fresh in summer, and dry twigs in winter.

Tannins are extracted from the bark for tanning hides and skins.

Leaves and bark are good raw materials for obtaining essential oils used in cosmetology. Oil suitable for food is also extracted from the fruits of the tree, drying oil is made from the same oil.

Hornbeam in folk medicine

Traditional healers use the leaves, bark and flowers of the hornbeam. The leaves contain a lot of aldehydes, tannins, gallic acid, coumarins, caffeic acid, bioflavonoids. The bark contains a lot of ascorbic acid and essential oils. The seeds contain vegetable fats. The juice from young shoots contains organic acids and sugars.

These unique substances are effective against a number of diseases - brain tumors, circulatory disorders in the brain, female infertility, diarrhea. Hornbeam shoots are included in the composition of herbal preparations, which are used when there is a threat of abortion.

Official medicine does not use parts of this tree for the preparation of medicines, so their chemical composition is poorly understood. Therefore, the medicinal raw materials of this tree must be used with great care, starting with small doses, and avoiding overdose.

Hornbeam magic

The hornbeam is considered a tree of realists, it is designed to dispel illusions and return dreamers from heaven to earth. But for workaholics, he gives part of his strength, helps to fully reveal his abilities and talents, and achieve the desired results and success in life. And the hornbeam really has power, not in vain in ancient times in European countries it was attributed to the Oak family.

Decorations made of light hornbeam wood relieve stupid prejudices and superstitions, make you look at problems that seem mystical from a realistic point of view and take concrete actions to solve them.

In addition, light jewelry has a calming effect, helps to relax, tune in to a pacifying mood, forget about the fuss and minor problems.

White hornbeam jewelry or a rosary is a good gift for those who have experienced difficult life situations, have been in a state of stress or depression, because white has always been the color of peace, purity, sincerity and nobility.

Types of hornbeam

If you decide to plant a hornbeam in your own area, first you need to decide on the type of tree in order to choose the right place for it and properly care for it. Different types of hornbeam can be very different in appearance, have different preferences for light and moisture, and will require slightly different care in the future.

Scientists have more than 40 types of hornbeam, some of them will be discussed in more detail.

Carolina hornbeam, or American - grows in the southern states of the USA - Carolina, Florida, Texas, on the banks of reservoirs. This species is thermophilic and shade-tolerant, in Russia it can be planted only in the southern regions.

The tree grows up to 12 meters, less often - up to 20. It is much more common in the form of a shrub with a lush crown, consisting of numerous branches. Easily tolerates shearing and pruning, the standard varieties of the Carolina hornbeam are used to create decorative figures and hedges:

The heart-leaved hornbeam has been used in culture since the late 19th century. In nature, it is found in the North-Eastern provinces of China, Japan and the Primorsky Territory of the Russian Federation. The tree is thermophilic, resistance to low temperatures is weak. It grows slowly, up to 15 meters in height, lives up to 50-60 years. It likes moist fertile soils, but can also grow on rocky soil. The leaves are oval, without a sharp tip, shaped like a heart:

The Japanese hornbeam is originally from Japan, where it grows in the middle tier of mixed forests. The plant is thermophilic, ornamental, undersized, grows up to 9-10 meters, sometimes up to 15 meters. The crown is compact and dense, the bark is gray, the leaves are corrugated, oval, elongated. In general, the tree looks very decorative both in the garden, and in natural conditions, and in the form of a bonsai:

Rare-colored hornbeam - grows in Japan along with the Japanese hornbeam, and on the Korean Peninsula. The tree is heat-loving and shade-tolerant, with a thin and smooth trunk covered with gray-white bark. Grows up to 15 meters. The leaves are oval, narrowed at the end, serrated.

This is how a rare-colored hornbeam looks like in bonsai, where its trunks seem to be whitewashed with lime:

Hornbeam black, oriental, hornbeam - looks quite decorative, therefore it has been used in culture since the 18th century. In nature, it grows in the Crimea, the Caucasus, the Balkans, Asia Minor and Iran.

Likes sunny mountain slopes, open forest edges, can grow on dry calcareous or rocky soil. Forms dense thickets in fluffy oak, cistus, pistachio, jasmine, juniper.

The tree is thermophilic, grows slowly, lives up to 90-100 years. It does not differ in winter hardiness, it is suitable for planting in the southern regions of Russia.

The height is small - up to 8 meters, the trunk with a diameter of 25 cm, is rarely even. The crown is oval, dense, the bark is gray. Gardeners make various figures from a dense crown; it tolerates a haircut well. The tree is suitable for creating a hedge. Wood is suitable for small crafts.

Diseases and pests of hornbeam

Typical diseases of the hornbeam are shoot and trunk rot, cancer growths, and leaf spot. Diseases caused by the fungus are treated with herbicides. Trunk cancer caused by a marsupial fungus, in which a cancerous ulcer is formed, causing the death of the tree, is not treated. The affected tree is cut down, the wood is burned.

With brown spotting of the leaves, the tree is sprayed with a solution of copper sulfate, the fallen leaves are burned.

The hornbeam does not have pests, mainly bark beetles and leaf beetles attack weakened diseased trees, or prefer to feed on the leaves of the hornbeam's forest neighbors.

The hornbeam tree belongs to the Birch family and is deciduous, relatively low. It can often be seen not only in forests, but also in parks, squares, on the streets, because the hornbeam lends itself perfectly to a haircut, it can be given any desired shape.

Where does the hornbeam grow?

If you get into the forest, you will immediately see a hornbeam tree, where two of its species grow (in Europe). In particular, this tree is common in the countries of the Northern Hemisphere, especially in Eurasia. In China, you can see almost all types of hornbeam that exist today. Most of them prefer to grow on slightly waterlogged loose soil, but there are some that can only take root in calcareous dry soil and cannot tolerate too high levels of humidity.

Hornbeam ecology

The hornbeam tree can be considered a rather unusual plant due to the fact that there are many of its species that are completely different from each other. Some of them are shade tolerant, others can only grow in direct sunlight. The stump growth from the hornbeam is quite plentiful. Rarely shoots germinate from the roots. The bark and wood of the hornbeam are food for some Lepidoptera, in particular for the larvae of the pyramidal scoop, winter moth, autumn moth. If you believe the archaeological excavations that were carried out in order to search for the ancestors of this type of tree, then the hornbeam in ancient times was widespread in Eurasia. In the Tertiary period, it appeared in Asia, and after a few centuries it began to grow in Europe.

Description of the hornbeam

The hornbeam tree has a longitudinally ribbed trunk. The bark is slightly fissured, often completely smooth, and has a distinct gray tint. The crown does not differ in breadth, but is always quite dense, while it consists mainly of thin long branches. Often in the form of shrubs, the hornbeam, whose leaves always grow in two rows, is excellent for creating garden figures. The buds of the tree are sharp, have a sitting position and are covered with scales. The leaves are unusual for the Birch family, are up to 10 cm long. They are oval or elliptical in shape, fall down, have denticles along the edges and

The hornbeam tree has dioecious flowers, they are monoecious and are pollinated by the wind. Pollination takes place with the help of earrings, which bloom along with the leaves. The flowers that distinguish the hornbeam tree (the photo can be seen in the article) do not have a perianth, are staminate and consist of four to twelve stamens. At the top are thin forked filaments, which are carried by anthers, which are distinguished by hairiness at the top. The flowers are located directly in the earrings, hidden in falling small scales. The fruits are small nuts, which are often arranged in a group of thirty of their own kind. The tree bears fruit annually, so it spreads very easily.

Hornbeam in your garden

If you love and want them to grow in your garden, then you simply cannot find a better option than a hornbeam. First of all, if you want to plant a hornbeam (tree), the description of which can be found a little higher, then you should know some rules:

Hornbeam varieties

There are four types of hornbeam:

1. Heart-leaved, which has light green leaves, its crown is particularly dense. This hornbeam grows well even in the shade, is not afraid of strong winds. It is best to plant it near or make it
2. European, or ordinary, has a very beautiful crown, oval leaves and an ovoid crown. It can often be found in the forests of our country.
3. The Carolina Hornbeam can reach 12 meters in height. It is hard to tolerate cold, so it grows in warm climates.
4. Turchaninov's hornbeam is a special variety that does not grow above 5 meters. Resistant to cold.

hornbeam bonsai

Despite the fact that the hornbeam is a large wild tree, it is great for bonsai lovers. The fact is that the crown and branches of the hornbeam can be shaped as you wish, giving them different sizes. If you decide to create your own hornbeam bonsai, then you should remember the rules for caring for it.

1. When planting a hornbeam for bonsai, remember that in summer it is better to protect it from the sun. And after planting, it is better to put young trees in a shaded place.
2. Do not worry about frequent cold weather, because this tree tolerates both heat and low temperatures well.
3. You can plant hornbeams in low ceramic containers, but choose the so-called woodland style.
4. In autumn, it is better to remove the leaves from the hornbeam, as well as clean the container from moss.
5. Transplanting into a larger container is best done in the first half of spring, while a third or half of the roots are removed.
6. In winter, it is necessary to carry out regulating and shaping pruning of branches in order to reduce crown thickening and create a shape.
7. As a rule, hornbeam bonsai are made using only pruning, but if necessary, wire can also be used in winter and autumn. But this is absolutely not necessary, since the hornbeam perfectly forms the crown.

The birch family includes many interesting plants, one of which is the hornbeam tree. It is most widely used in Asia and China. This tree does best in sunny areas. Although it can be grown in a little shading and even with strong winds.

The hornbeam is very demanding on the soil, which must not only be provided with a sufficient amount of moisture, but also have a loose structure and be distinguished by fertility. During periods of drought, additional watering is necessary. In the hornbeam genus, there are plants that can reach a height of 30 m. This tree is highly durable, as it can grow for 300 years. Hornbeam can be propagated by seeds or cuttings.

Description of the tree and growing conditions

Among the representatives of this genus there are plants that can grow up to 5-30 m. The hornbeam is especially distinguished by its width, which can be up to 8 m. The tree can have a crown of various shapes, which is determined by the type of tree. There are specimens that have a dense, spreading or openwork crown. The usual color of the foliage is dark green. However, his tree retains only until autumn: at this moment it is transformed and changes its original shade to yellow or purple. The trunk of the tree has a smooth light bark.

During flowering, the tree produces male and female flowers that look like catkins. Inflorescences are formed at the time of leaf blooming. When the flowering phase comes to an end, fruits begin to appear, resembling nuts in their appearance. However, not all trees come into fruition, but only those whose age exceeds 15-20 years.

Although the homeland of the common hornbeam is Asia and China, it also grows in other places on the planet - in Belarus, Europe and some Baltic countries. Most often it can be found:

• on open forest edges;
• in coniferous forests;
• on the slopes, open to the sun from all sides.

Often, the common hornbeam can be found in mixed forests, where it is in the company of oak and beech. When grown in specially designated areas, hornbeam can be a good neighbor for jasmine and juniper. The tree responds well to watering, but stagnant moisture does not benefit it. It thrives best on soil with a loose texture. Although this tree can tolerate long periods of drought, it needs supplemental irrigation during extreme heat. The advantage of the common hornbeam is frost resistance. Also his can be grown in the urban area. The unpretentiousness of the plant is manifested in resistance to many diseases and pests.

When growing a hornbeam, the owner does not have to spend a lot of time and effort on caring for it. However, it is still necessary to carefully approach the choice of soil mixture and regularly irrigate at the planting stage. This plant also needs pruning. Since the branches of the hornbeam grow rather slowly, it is quite easy to give its crown the necessary shape that the tree will retain for a long time. To obtain new trees, seeds, cuttings and layering can be used as planting material. A mandatory pre-planting event that is carried out in relation to seeds is stratification.

For best effect hardening the seeds is necessary in two stages, each of which requires them to be kept at different temperatures and times. Sowing seeds should be planned in the fall. Then, with the onset of spring, the first shoots will appear. Seeds remain viable for three years when they are stored in suitable storage conditions. To do this, they must be placed in a dry, tightly closed container or bag. If cuttings are used for propagation, then full-fledged hornbeam trees can be obtained quite soon.

Application in landscape design and not only

The hornbeam is often used as a bright element for the design of urban areas and home gardens. However, its scope is not limited to this. In ancient times, it served as a raw material for obtaining coal for the brazier. Such interest in it was due to the fact that during the burning of wood the flame did not create smoke. Because of this, such fuel was in high demand by pottery workshops and bakeries. Also, hornbeam wood was used for the production of handles for knives and axes, hair combs.

In recent years, this tree can often be found in summer cottages, because they make the backyard area more attractive. Since this plant tolerates pruning well, it can be planted individually or used as part of group plantings. Hornbeams are in demand among landscape designers who use them in the arrangement:

• alleys;
• hedges;
• city ​​squares and parks.

Many people pay attention to the fact that the tree grows extremely slowly, so it will not be necessary to cut it too often. Of particular interest are dwarf hornbeam varieties that can be grown in offices or apartments. Real connoisseurs of fresh flowers and plants will surely like a hornbeam in a pot.

Hornbeam wood is a material that is in demand in various fields. Its often used to make:

• cutting boards;
• shovels and rakes;
• parquet and other floor coverings.

Furniture companies choose this material because of its high strength and durability. However, despite all its advantages, this wood is difficult to carve and polish. This is explained by the dependence of the tree on moisture. After staining, the wood does not show any changes, however, it must be covered with a special anti-rotting agent, otherwise it will begin to deteriorate pretty soon.

Hornbeam bark is necessary for tanning skins. Its leaves are often used as livestock feed. Due to its properties, hornbeam is also used in cosmetology. First of all, this concerns its bark and leaves, which are of value because of the essential oil. It is also present in the composition of the fruits of nuts, which can be used as food.

Creating hedges

Based on the hornbeam tree, you can create hedges, giving them the shape of borders or walls. With the help of any such tree, you can get quite elegant and original fences.

Hedges in the form of borders

Such hedges are formed from low-growing plants that reach 0.5 m in adulthood. Trees have a small width - no more than 30 cm, while they require dense planting. To maintain the desired shape of the borders, plants should provide regular care, which boils down to a haircut. Border-shaped hedges can be formed based on low plant species. These hedges are perfect for fencing flower beds, lawns or paths. However, it should be borne in mind that in such an appointment they will only serve as a decorative fence.

Hedges, which are formed on the basis of a hornbeam, usually do not exceed 2 m in height. The main purpose of creating such hedges is to conduct zoning of the territory. The hornbeam will not require much attention from the owner, since the main activities are reduced to pruning, and the need for this occurs very rarely. Having a similar fence on his site, the summer resident will be protected from noise, as well as prying eyes. At the same time, he will have the opportunity to feel the pleasant aroma of flowering trees.

Fences in the form of a wall

Larger are the wall-shaped hedges, since they height usually exceeds 2 m.

This design element is more in demand as a decoration and fencing of parks, alleys and large areas of private houses. It is necessary to have young trees no closer than 30 cm from each other.

If necessary, they can be used to create a hedge that has the shape of a wall. For this purpose, special tall varieties are ideal, which also grow slowly, so it will be very easy to care for them.

You can also build a high living wall on your site from an ordinary hornbeam. This tree has a fairly dense crown, so it makes a solid wall, which provides good protection of the backyard territory from prying eyes.

The hornbeam is one of the most popular solutions, on the basis of which hedges of various configurations are created.

Conclusion

The hornbeam is not often found in summer cottages, although gardeners who are familiar with its features understand how you can benefit from this plant. This tree is popular as an ornamental plant.

However, at the same time, it can also serve as a hedge. This is facilitated by a dense crown, which can provide good protection from prying eyes and noise. But for the use of a hornbeam in such a purpose, it is necessary to select the appropriate types of wood. A hedge can act as a limiter or be a protective wall. Therefore, in each case, the choice of plants will vary.

Previously, the hornbeam was considered a wood species and its wood was used very limitedly: small parts, knitting needles, wedges, screws, various crafts, elements of decorative mosaic parquet were made. Now hornbeam wood is used to make veneer, parts of musical instruments, tool handles, interior items, various turning products, individual parts of machines and mechanisms in mechanical engineering.

The hornbeam is a genus of monoecious deciduous trees, rarely large shrubs of the Betulaceae family. Includes about 50 species distributed in the zones of the northern hemisphere. The genus is divided into two sections, the most common representatives of the first section of Distegocarpus are the heart-leaved hornbeam and the Japanese hornbeam. The second section is more diverse: the hornbeam itself. It includes the most numerous hornbeam in Europe, Asia Minor and the Caucasus. The hornbeam genus is represented by trees, the height of which is mainly from 5 to 30 m, and the diameter is up to 40 cm. The trunk is longitudinally ribbed, with a large number of longitudinal protrusions, covered with smooth or slightly cracked light gray bark, with a beautiful dense, cylindrical and not wide crown. On the trunks of young trees, the bark is from light ash to silver-gray, shiny, smooth; the bark darkens with age, in older trees it can be dark gray. The trunk is usually tapered, often multi-vertex, the cross section differs significantly from the circle. The crown frame consists of relatively thin branches directed upwards, sometimes with hanging ends and partially cranked branches, on which the next leaves are located in two rows. Pyramidal forms and forms with weeping hanging branches are known. Young shoots are brownish-green or brown with lenticels, glabrous, shiny, but some members of the genus may be pubescent. The roots are smooth, dark brown with a purple tint, mostly horizontally oriented. The leaves are dark green glossy above and slightly lighter below, 4 to 15 cm long and 2.5 to 6 cm wide, falling, simple, oblong-oval or oval, double-toothed, pointed at the apex, with parallel pinnate venation and falling stipules. Wintering buds are light brown, sessile, scaly, narrow, sharp, located on shoots in two rows, pressed against them. Flower buds are larger than leaf buds.

The flowers are dioecious, monoecious, in catkins that bloom simultaneously with the leaves. Male inflorescences have long drooping catkins, each flower with a hairy reddish-green bract. Female flowers are short, also collected in catkins and sit two in axils of small, rapidly falling integumentary scales. Fruits abundantly and annually. The fruit is a one-celled, one-seeded, almost woody grayish-green longitudinally ribbed nutlet, sitting at the base of a brown-green leaf-like leathery involucre; seeds without endosperm, with fleshy, during germination, above-ground cotyledons. One kilogram contains up to 25 thousand wingless nuts, the weight of 1000 nuts is 30-60 g. The hornbeam is one of the plants whose seeds are distributed by the wind. The completeness of hornbeam planting does not have a significant effect on the yield.

The hornbeam grows slowly, but on sufficiently moist calcareous, loose and rich soil, it can somewhat accelerate growth. Some types of hornbeam can grow on dry calcareous soils, but do not tolerate waterlogged and acidic soils; hornbeam belongs to mesophytes and is more demanding on moisture than oak, maple and other hardwoods. In relation to air humidity, it almost does not differ from oak, the air velocity for normal transpiration should be 3-5 m / s. The hornbeam is a species of mild climate, it is not as thermophilic as beech, but more thermophilic than oak and ash. Most hornbeam species within their ranges tolerate cold winters well, are resistant to frost and frost, but can freeze slightly in severe winters.
In natural plantations, the hornbeam is more resistant to negative temperatures than in crops. Hornbeam flowers often suffer from frost, which reduces fruiting and yield.

Representatives of the hornbeam genus are practically not damaged by pests and diseases. Among the few pests of the hornbeam are various narrow-bodied beetles, barbels, weevils, pipe rollers, but mass outbreaks of hornbeam damage by pests are not observed. Fungal diseases affect weakened specimens. The hornbeam is predominantly a shade-tolerant breed, this is evidenced by the nature of the structure of the crown, the intensity of clearing the trunk from branches and growing under the canopy of broad-leaved forests. However, at a young age, trees require good lighting for normal development. The hornbeam forms abundant stump shoots, and rarely gives root offspring.

Hornbeam heart-leaved, or seaside (Сarpinus cordata)- a tree reaching a height of 20 m, has a slender trunk with a diameter of up to 20-30 cm. The crown is very dense, the bark is silver-gray, deeply cracking. Young shoots and leaf petioles are felty pubescent, eventually becoming bare. Kidneys lanceolate, pointed, lateral 7-12 mm long, apical - about 20 mm. The leaves are ovate or oval, 7-12 cm long and up to 6 cm wide, pointed, with a heart-shaped base, unevenly doubled-serrated, hairy below along the protruding veins, on petioles 1-3 cm long and with early falling stipules up to 3 cm long. Male catkins are loose, 4-8 cm long, female catkins are green, thick, drooping, from 6 to 25 cm long. Elliptical bare nutlet is covered with bristles and oval involucre. It turns green in late May, blooms in early June and bears fruit in late August and early September. There are approximately 30,000 pure seeds per kilogram. It is short-lived, usually when it reaches the age of 50-60, dry top and core rot develop, and the tree quickly dies.

Range: southeast of Primorsky Krai, Japan, Korea, mountainous North and Central China. It occurs singly in the second layer of shady broad-leaved mixed forests in the extreme southeast of Primorsky Krai. It is thermophilic, very shade-tolerant, grows well on fertile moist alluvial soils, but is also found on stony dry places, so in the literature one can find references to the fact that this species is not picky about soils.

Decorative tree for single and group plantings in gardens and parks; separately growing trees are distinguished by beautiful large foliage. Good soil protection breed. It is suitable for the second tier in field-protective forest belts in the forest-steppe and steppe zones of the European part of Russia.

Japanese hornbeam (Сarpinus japonica)- a tree reaching a height of 15 m, with a wide dense crown and ash-gray fissured bark. Young shoots have felt pubescence and numerous lenticels. Buds lanceolate, acuminate, 7-13 mm long. The leaves are oval or ovate-lanceolate, 5-10 cm long, pointed, rounded or slightly heart-shaped at the base, unevenly serrated. Young leaves have brown pubescence along the veins below, become glabrous or almost glabrous with time, on petioles 7-15 mm long, painted in a rich green color, with 20-24 pairs of veins, deeply depressed from above and protruding from below, which gives them a characteristic relief. Earrings drooping, oblong, 6-8 cm long, on legs up to 3 cm long, involucre oval, serrated, about 2 cm long. Blossoms in May, fruits ripen in October.

Natural range: Japan; grows in the second tier of shady deciduous mountain forests. The species is very close to hearty ash, but less stable. Very decorative tree with openwork rich green foliage. Suitable for cultivation in the southern part of the Far East.

Common hornbeam (Сarpinus betulus)- a tree reaching a height of 25-30 m, with a dense cylindrical and rounded crown at the top and a ribbed trunk up to 40 cm in diameter with ash-gray bark. Lives up to 100 years or more. The branches are thin, long, lateral branches hanging down in spring, straight in summer; young shoots are brown-brown with lenticels, glabrous or with scattered felt pubescence. The kidneys are pointed, narrow, 5-8 mm in length. The leaves are oval or oval-elongated, pointed, rounded or slightly heart-shaped at the base, up to 15 cm long and 5 cm wide, with 10-15 pairs of veins depressed from above and protruding from below, dark green, dense, practically naked, on petioles up to 15 mm. Mature catkins up to 15 cm long and 6 cm wide, fruit involucre smooth and leathery, 3-6 cm long, three-lobed, entire or partially toothed. It blooms in May-June, fructifies annually and abundantly, often the seedlings completely hide the leaves. Seed fruit ripen in September-October and fall off only in late autumn, and sometimes remain until spring. In one kilogram, up to 35 thousand wingless nuts, their germination rate is about 70-80%, remains until spring. The root system of the hornbeam is superficial, its branching is predominantly horizontal. In the first years of growth, the central tap root is clearly expressed with a large number of lateral branched roots growing from it; with age, second-order roots begin to develop. Gradually, the tap root stops growing in depth, and the lateral secondary roots thicken and lengthen; from them, in turn, departs a large number of small intertwining roots.

Up to five years, the common hornbeam grows very slowly, then the increase in height accelerates to 0.5 m annually. From the age of 30-40, growth slows down again, and by the age of 80-90 it gradually stops, by this age dry top can develop and death can be observed. Usually a hornbeam lives 100-120 years, rarely more than 150 years, but under exceptionally favorable conditions it can live up to 300-400 years.

Previously, the hornbeam was not considered as a valuable species, as it easily occupied clearings of more valuable species, and was almost never used in technology. But hornbeam wood is valued in mechanical engineering, in the manufacture of machine parts (screws, gears). In a low-stem farm with coppice renewal, hornbeam felling can begin in 20-30 years.

The hornbeam is a sapwood scattered vascular rock. The wood is white, sometimes with a grayish or yellowish tint, heavy, strong, hard. The boundaries of the annual layers are winding and are clearly visible. There are two types of core rays: narrow and false wide. False-wide rays are clearly visible in all sections: on the transverse they are distinguished by a light shade, they bend and change in width, on the radial they are visible in the form of light blotches or segments, on the tangential they look like long and dark strokes. Wood has high physical and mechanical characteristics, including bending resistance (Table 1).

It has many forms, the difference between which lies in the structure of the crown or leaves: with a pyramidal crown; with thin hanging branches; with small and often heart-shaped leaves; with leaves sharply lobed-incised along the edge; with young purple leaves. In natural plantations, a pure form of the common hornbeam is usually found with a dense, wide cylindrical crown, the top of which is rounded, a form with a pyramidal crown and more saturated dark foliage is often found. These forms of hornbeam can co-exist in the same plantation, but the broad-crowned form will have better growth and better delimbing.

Range: all Western and Eastern Europe to the Mediterranean Sea, with the exception of Spain and Scandinavian countries; Lithuania, Latvia, Belarus, Moldova, Ukraine. The northern border runs through southern England and southern Sweden, the southern border - from southern France along the northern coast of the Mediterranean Sea and further through the straits to the Black Sea. Optimum conditions for growth are in the east and west of the range, while for most tree species the optimum is in the center of the range.

The common hornbeam is a tree of the plains and foothills, it occurs in the mountains up to 800 m above sea level, within the boundaries of the range it avoids significant heights. It does not form pure plantations, it grows in a mixture with beech and oak, usually forming a second tier, less often it is part of the first tier. Pure hornbeam forests are rare; populating the felling of broad-leaved forests, the common hornbeam forms derivative forests, which should be considered as a temporary phenomenon.

The species is very shade-tolerant, within the range it is not damaged by frosts and frosts. Demanding on soil, grows best on fresh, loose fertile soils, can grow on lime-containing rocks, does not tolerate acidic and waterlogged soils, tolerates periodic waterlogging in river floodplains. Provides excellent soil fertility, good humus former; valuable as a soil-protective second layer in sparse oak plantations, especially on slopes.

In culture within the boundaries of the range and outside it, it has been used for a long time, predominantly as an ornamental hardwood. It is used for single plantings, creating decorative groups in gardens and parks, hedges and objects of topiary art - after pruning, the tree begins to branch strongly and give abundant dense shoots. In decorative plantings, forms with a pyramidal, columnar crown, with thin drooping branches, with purple, but eventually turning green leaves, are selected.

As a result of various diseases, leaves can be deformed in forms of the common hornbeam.

Caucasian hornbeam (Сarpinus caucasica)- a tree reaching a height of 30-35 m. The Caucasian hornbeam is distinguished from Carpinus betulus by minor and unstable differences: the shape and size of the nut, which is slightly smaller and thinner (ovoid). Some taxonomists consider the Caucasian hornbeam a variety of the common hornbeam. Light leaves are formed in the apical part of the crown of trees of the upper tier. Shade leaves are formed in the lower shaded part of the crown.

Range: Caucasus, Crimea, north of Asia Minor and northern Iran. In the mountains, the upper limit of distribution is at an altitude of about 2000 m above sea level. Rarely forms pure forests, usually found as an admixture in deciduous forests. On more fertile soils, forests, including hornbeam, can reach I-II quality class. In the worst growing conditions, the hornbeam forms a forest stand of III and IV quality classes. Above 1000 m above sea level, the Caucasian hornbeam no longer forms forests in which it dominates, it occurs under the canopy. Often the Caucasian hornbeam is a pioneer in the settlement of clearings and burnt areas, renewing by growth and seed. The root system is superficial. On the slopes of the mountains, the trees form plank-shaped horizontal roots that grow together, especially near the base of the trunk; possible fusion of the roots of different trees.

In the Caucasus and the Crimea, the Caucasian hornbeam is not yet sufficiently appreciated, only as a forest species, well fastening the soil and slopes with its roots, which are threatened by erosion, creating barriers for stones falling from above. The Caucasian hornbeam tolerates shearing well, keeps its shape for a long time, forming a dense crown, almost impenetrable to light. This property, as well as undemanding to the soil, makes it a good ornamental breed that can be used in topiary art, to create sheared hedges and walls. Caucasian hornbeam can be used in the areas of common hornbeam and English oak in the European part of Russia and broad-leaved forests of the Far East.

Wood in terms of physical and mechanical properties is closest to persimmon wood, but surpasses it in all respects, except for strength in static bending. In terms of volumetric weight and physical and mechanical properties, it surpasses wood of pear and yellow birch (except for resistance to impact bending), maple, beech, but is inferior to wood of boxwood (except for resistance to static bending), pistachio (except for resistance to static and impact bending), iron birch and white acacia.

Shushinsky hornbeam (Сarpinus schuschaensis)- a small tree with reddish-brown young branches, reaching a height of 5-6 m. The leaves are oval-ovate, 3.5-7 cm long and 2.5-4 cm wide, pointed, dark green, on petioles 1-1 .5 cm long. Fruit catkins are loose, about 5 cm long and 3 cm wide; involucre mostly sharp, 2-3 cm long and 1-16 mm wide, nutlet oval, brown, with tomentose pubescence. Blooms in March-April; fruiting in June-July.

Range: Eastern and Southern Transcaucasia; northern and western Iran. It occurs in the mountains as undergrowth, on the edges and in clearings of deciduous forests.

Caroline hornbeam (Carpinus caroliniana)- a small tree, reaching 12 m in height; at the northern border of the range, a large shrub with numerous outstretched branches can be a life form. The crown is openwork. The trunk is ribbed, the bark is from ash-gray to gray-brown, smooth. Lateral branches are thin, slightly drooping. Leaves on petioles are about 8 mm long, oval-elliptical, pointed above and rounded at the base, 6-10 cm long and 2.3-4 cm wide, glabrous, but hardly noticeable pubescence is possible from below along the veins. The color of the leaves is bluish-green in summer, crimson and orange in autumn. Fruit catkins drooping, 5-10 cm long; wrappers 2-3 cm long, usually serrated along one edge.

Distribution: east of North America, where it grows along the banks of rivers and the outskirts of swamps, on moist fertile soils. It has a more southern form, which is characterized by ash-gray trunk bark and smaller and narrower leaves with short teeth. Introduced into culture since 1812. Landings are known in Ukraine, the Caucasus and Belarus. Growing the Caroline hornbeam is quite possible within the same limits as the common hornbeam.

The wood is hard, durable and resistant to abrasion.

Rare-flowered hornbeam (Сarpinus laxiflora)- a tree reaching 15 m in height, with a thin, even trunk, covered with smooth light ash, sometimes almost white bark. Kidneys about 1 cm long, brick-brown, smooth. The leaves are oval-elliptical, 4-7 cm long and 2-4 cm wide, pointed, rounded at the base, with 10-12 pairs of veins, glabrous, with slight pubescence along the veins below, on petioles 6-18 mm long. Mature fruit earrings are drooping, loose, 5-7 cm long.

Range: Japan. It grows together with Japanese hornbeam in mountain deciduous forests, but in warmer places. In the southern part of the range, it grows at an altitude of up to 1000 m above sea level, and in the north it descends to the coastal strip. It has been introduced into culture since 1914. Beautiful and very decorative tree; long dangling earrings and autumn coloring of foliage give it special elegance.

Chonosky hornbeam (Сarpinus Tschonoskii)- a tree up to 15 m high. Young branches and petioles of leaves with soft felt pubescence. The leaves are oblong-oval, 4-9 cm long, pointed, rounded at the base, finely serrate, with 12-15 pairs of veins, young ones are pubescent on both sides, then only along the veins below. Earrings 5-7 cm long, with felt axis and stem, wraps sharp, bare nutlet.

Habitat: mountain forests of northern China.

In culture since 1894. It can be used as a highly ornamental tree within the boundaries of common hornbeam and heart hornbeam. Close to the Chonoski hornbeam and hardly distinguishable from it, the species carpinus Yedoensis (Japan), carpinus Henryana (Central and Western China), carpinus Fargesiana (China), carpinus Eximia and carpinus Fauriei (Korea) are not widely used in cultivation.

Oriental hornbeam (carpinus orientalis)- a tree of the third magnitude, reaching a height of 5, rarely 8 m, with a dense ovoid or rounded crown and light gray bark on a often twisted ribbed trunk, has the ability to strongly bush. Young branches and leaf petioles are felt-pubescent; buds are medium-sized, 3-4 mm long, ovoid, brick-brown. The leaves are rich green in summer and light yellow in autumn, elongated-elliptical or oval-elliptical, 2-5 cm long and 1.5-3 cm wide, sharp, rounded at the base, glabrous above, with 11-15 pairs of veins, on petioles 3-10 mm long. Earrings greyish-green, 3-8 cm long, pedicel 1.2-2 cm long; oval wrappers. The nutlet is felt-pubescent at the top, brown-brown.

Grows in the lower, less often in the middle belt of mountains, at an altitude of up to 1200 m above sea level in the Caucasus, in the Crimea, the Mediterranean, in Southern and Eastern Europe, Asia Minor, in Iran; mainly on sunny slopes, along forest edges, on dry, stony calcareous soils. Under the influence of strong sea winds, the crown acquires a flag-like shape. A characteristic tree in the composition of deciduous thickets that appear on the site of cut down forests. The rock is very light-loving, heat-loving, but tolerates frosts down to -25 ° C, perfectly tolerates dry soil, is not demanding on soil conditions, but clearly gravitates towards rocks containing lime. It reproduces well by seeds, on the slopes where the vegetation has been damaged by livestock, it is a pioneer, and due to the prickly tips on dried branches, it practically does not overeat with animals. Very hardy tree, grows slowly and rarely lives to 100-120 years.

Oriental hornbeam has been known in culture since 1739, it tolerates any haircut well, branches strongly, forming a dense and beautiful crown, therefore it is used to create hedges, trellises and other sheared structures. Propagated by seeds, cuttings and layering.

Hornbeam Turchaninov (Carpinus Turczaninovii)- a small bushy tree, reaching 5 m in height, branches and petioles of leaves are felt-pubescent. The leaves are broadly oval, 3-5 cm long, acute, rounded at the base, with 10-12 pairs of veins, pubescent along the veins below. Earrings 3-4 cm long, drooping, semi-oval involucre, sharp or blunt, glandular-dotted nutlet.

Habitat: mountain forests of Northern China and Korea. Introduced into culture since 1889. It can be used as a small-leaved bushy tree in landscaping in the southern part of the range of the hornbeam orientalis. A closely related species from the eastern part of China, Carpinus polyneura, differs in narrower leaves with 15-20 pairs of veins.

Hornbeam wood

Table 4. Average indicators of the main physical and mechanical
properties of hornbeam wood (numerator - at a moisture content of 12%,
denominator at 30% or more)

The hornbeam is a diffusely vascular hardwood with small vessels that are more or less evenly distributed within the annual layer. There are many vessels, in early wood there are more of them than in late wood, and they are larger, collected in radial groups of 2-6 pieces, rarely arranged one at a time. There is no core. White wood with a slight grayish or yellowish tint, matte, with two types of core rays: wide false core rays and simple narrow ones. False rays are clearly visible on the transverse section with the naked eye as white, often curved radial stripes of uneven width. The annual layers are heterogeneous, well distinguishable on the end section, with sinuous-wavy boundaries - this is a characteristic feature of hornbeam wood. On longitudinal sections, annual rings are poorly visible.

The wood of the hornbeam is curly, dense, flexible, elastic, very hard, wear-resistant, and has a high fracture resistance. It is difficult to process, it is difficult to screw screws into it, it pricks badly, but it is well polished, after grinding it acquires a matte shade. As a result of drying, it can crack and warp. At high humidity and temperature, it is unstable to fungal diseases. Along the height of the trunk, the physical and mechanical properties change slightly, along the radius of the trunk they decrease in the direction from the core to the bark.

Use of a hornbeam

Hornbeam wood is prone to cracking and warping if not properly dried, so it is not recommended to use elements from it (parquet, doors, etc.) in rooms where air humidity is high and unstable. Due to the serpentine structure, hornbeam wood is difficult to machine, but it is stained and impregnated well, therefore it is suitable for imitation of expensive and rare species.

Hornbeam firewood has a high calorific value and gives a minimum of soot, which indicates their high quality; hornbeam makes good charcoal.

The trunk of the hornbeam is not straight and not slightly bent, the output of wood from it is small, in addition, it is not resistant to damage by wood-destroying fungi, therefore it is not suitable for construction. Young hornbeam branches are used as feed for cattle. Leaves and bark contain a large amount of tannins, essential oils; a yellow dye is isolated from the bark.

The hornbeam has very decorative rich green foliage, creating a mosaic, openwork, low-sitting crown, which acquires a fiery red and yellow color in autumn. Large creamy green fruit catkins stand out against the bright green foliage. The hornbeam has a number of decorative forms, it makes a wonderful bonsai. Used in group and single plantings. After shearing, the crown holds its shape well and becomes denser, so the hornbeam is often used to create hedges, walls and other elements of topiary art.

Elena Karpova,
Anton KUZNETSOV, Ph.D. biologist. Sciences,
assistant professor. cafe general ecology, plant physiology and wood science SPbGLTU