About Ostrya carpinifolia Scop.
Ostrya carpinifolia Scop. is a broadleaf deciduous tree that can grow up to 21 metres (69 ft) tall. It has a conical or irregular crown, scaly rough bark, and alternate double-toothed birch-like leaves that are 3–10 cm long. The leaves have 11 to 15 pairs of veins, and their underside is either slightly hairy or smooth. It produces flowers in spring; male catkins are 5–10 cm (2–4 in) long, while female catkins are 2–5 cm (3⁄4–2 in) long. Its fruit grows in pendulous clusters 3–8 cm (1+1⁄4–3+1⁄4 in) long, each cluster holding 6–20 seeds. Each seed is a small nut 2–4 mm (1⁄16–3⁄16 in) long, fully enclosed in a bladder-like involucre. Ostrya carpinifolia is naturally found in Lebanon, Italy, France, Austria, Slovenia, Albania, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Greece, Bulgaria, southern Switzerland and Turkey. It has been cultivated in England since before 1724. In southern Italy and Sicily, it occurs at medium elevations, within the South Apennine mixed montane forests ecoregion of the Mediterranean forests, woodlands, and scrub biome. The wood of Ostrya carpinifolia is very heavy and hard, and it was historically used to make plane soles. It has also been used to manufacture wooden cogs and gears. Ostrya carpinifolia is used as a food source by the larvae of some Lepidoptera species.
