Trees of Alabama and the Southeast Home Page

Leaves are simple, alternate, deciduous, thin, and elliptical to ovate with a round to heart-shaped base, hair below and doubly serrate margins. Lateral veins break up toward the leaf margin. Twigs are red-brown, slender, and zigzag.  Buds are pointed, and green-brown striped. Bark is red-brown and scaly. Fruit is a nutlet enclosed in a hop-like paper sac. Hophornbeam is found in the understory in moist, well-drained forests in the east and central U.S. and is tolerant of shade.  The wood is hard and pale and used in specialty items.  The seed is eaten by turkey and other birds as well as small animals.

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All text and photographs are intended for educational purposes only and are not for commercial use in any form.  All photographs are copyrighted by the named photographer(s), text copyright by Lisa Samuelson. © 2005, all rights reserved. Photographs by Mike Hogan.