Scientific Name
Carpinus caroliniana
Trade Name
American hornbeam
Family Name
Betulaceae
Common Names
American hornbeam, Blue beech, Water beech
Regions of Distribution
Central America, North America
Countries of Distribution [VIEW MAP]
Canada, Mexico, United States
Common Uses
Farm vehicles, Fuelwood, Handles, Machinery parts, Shafts/Handles, Skids, Tool handles, Vehicle parts, Wheels
Environmental Profile
| Status has not been officially assessed |
Distribution Overview
The range of American hornbeam extends from central Maine west to southwestern Quebec, southeastern Ontario, northern Michigan, and northern Minnesota; south to central Iowa and eastern Texas; and east to central Florida. Usually found in the understory of floodplain forests.
Heartwood Color
| Brown | ||||||||||||
| Red | ||||||||||||
| Yellowish tan | ||||||||||||
| Turn reddish brown upon exposure | ||||||||||||
| Light brown |
Sapwood Color
| White | ||||||||||||
| White |
Sapwood is thick
Grain
| Even | ||||||||||||
| Closed | ||||||||||||
| Figure | ||||||||||||
| Straight | ||||||||||||
| Irregular | ||||||||||||
| Wavy |
Texture
| Coarse |
Natural Durability
| Perishable | ||||||||||||
| Non-resistant to powder post beetles | ||||||||||||
| Susceptible to insect attack | ||||||||||||
| Non-durable | ||||||||||||
| Very little natural resistance |
Heartwood should not be used in conditions where decay is likely.
Odor
| No specific smell or taste |
Drying Defects
| Distortion | ||||||||||||
| Warping can be expected | ||||||||||||
| Severe twisting/warping |
Ease of Drying
| Rapidly | ||||||||||||
| Medium to High Shrinkage | ||||||||||||
| Reconditioning Treatement | ||||||||||||
| Little degrade |
Tree Size
| Tree height is 10-20 m | ||||||||||||
| Tree height is 20-30 m |
Tree is small and shrubby
Comments
Although the species is also referred to as Blue or Water beech because of the similar bark, it is actually a member of the Birch family.
Blunting Effect
| Moderate | ||||||||||||
| High to severe |
Boring
| Very good to excellent results | ||||||||||||
| Fairly easy to very easy |
Cutting Resistance
| Easy to saw | ||||||||||||
| Figure | ||||||||||||
| Interlocked | ||||||||||||
| Other (figure) | ||||||||||||
| Even | ||||||||||||
| Straight | ||||||||||||
| Irregular | ||||||||||||
| Growth rings (figure) | ||||||||||||
| Crossed | ||||||||||||
| Rays (figure) | ||||||||||||
| Rippled (figure) | ||||||||||||
| Stripe (figure) | ||||||||||||
| Fair to Good Results |
Moulding
| Fair to Good Results |
Movement in Service
| Excellent Stability – Small Movement | ||||||||||||
| Unstable with Poor Stability – Large Movement | ||||||||||||
| Not stable/prone to move |
Nailing
| Pre-Boring Recommended | ||||||||||||
| Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult |
Planing
| Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult | ||||||||||||
| Poor to Very Poor Results | ||||||||||||
| Satisfactory machining properties |
Resistance to Impregnation
| Resistant sapwood | ||||||||||||
| Resistant heartwood |
Response to Hand Tools
| Fairly Difficult to Difficult to Work |
Routing & Recessing
| Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult |
Turning
| Fair to Good Results | ||||||||||||
| Fairly Easy to Very Easy |
Steam Bending
| Very Good to Excellent Results | ||||||||||||
| Fairly Easy to Very Easy |
Polishing
| Fair to Good Results | ||||||||||||
| Fairly Easy to Very Easy |
Staining
| Fair to Good Results | ||||||||||||
| Fairly Easy to Very Easy | ||||||||||||
| Very Good to Excellent Results |
Strength Properties
| Heavy |
Wood is very heavy
Numerical Data
| Item | Green | Dry | English |
| Specific Gravity | 0.54 | 0.64 | |
| Weight | 50 | 47 | lbs/ft3 |
| Radial Shrinkage | 6 | % | |
| Tangential Shrinkage | 11 | % | |
| Volumetric Shrinkage | 19 | % | |
| Item | Green | Dry | Metric |
| Specific Gravity | 0.54 | 0.64 | |
| Weight | 801 | 753 | kg/m3 |
| Radial Shrinkage | 6 | % | |
| Tangential Shrinkage | 11 | % |
References
Little, E.L. 1980. The Audubon Society Field Guide to North American Trees – Eastern Region. Published by Arthur A. Knopf, New York.
Panshin, A.J. and C. deZeeuw. 1980. Textbook of Wood Technology, 4th Edition. McGraw-Hill Series in Forest Resources, McGraw-Hill Book Company, New York