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Ostrya spp. |
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Family: Betulaceae |
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Hophornbeam |
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The genus
Ostrya is composed of about 8 species native to: Mexico [1], Eurasia [1],
eastern Asia/Japan [3] and the USA & Canada [3]. The name ostrya is
Latinized from the Greek ostrua, a tree with very hard wood and most likely the
European Hornbeam (Carpinus betulus).
Ostrya
carpinifolia-European
Hophornbeam
Ostrya
chisosensis-Big
Bend Hophornbeam, Chisos Hophornbeam
Ostrya
knowltonii-Ironwood,
Knowlton Hophornbeam, Western Hophornbeam, Wolf Hophornbeam
Ostrya
virginiana*-American
Hophornbeam, Deerwood, Eastern Hophornbeam, Hardhack, Hornbeam, Ironwood,
Leverwood, Ostria
* commercially
important
The following
is for Eastern Hophornbeam:
?
Distribution
North America,
from Nova Scotia to Maine, Quebec, Ontario, Michigan, Minnesota, Manitoba and
North Dakota south to South Dakota, Nebraska, Kansas, Oklahoma Texas and Mexico
east to Florida.
The Tree
Hophornbeams
are small deciduous trees with scaly rough bark. The leaves are double toothed
and of alternate arrangement. The male flowers are borne on upright catkins,
while the female flowers and fruits are grouped in clusters, resembling hops.
They reach heights of 60 feet and 2 feet in diameter. It prefers upland soils
in hilly country.
The Wood
General
The sapwood of
Hophornbeam is wide and whitish, while the heartwood is light brown with red
streaks. It has no characteristic odor or taste. It is very heavy and hard. It
is sometimes confused with birch.
Mechanical
Properties (2-inch standard)
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Compression |
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Specific gravity |
MOE x106 lbf/in2 |
MOR lbf/in2 |
Parallel lbf/in2 |
Perpendicular lbf/in2 |
WMLa in-lbf/in3 |
Hardness lbf |
Shear lbf/in2 |
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Green |
0.63 |
1.15 |
8,500 |
3,570 |
730 |
13.3 |
1,170 |
1,370 |
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Dry |
0.70 |
1.70 |
14,100 |
7,760 |
1,500 |
14.0 |
1,860 |
1,790 |
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aWML = Work to maximum load.
Reference (59). |
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Drying and
Shrinkage
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Type of shrinkage |
Percentage of
shrinkage |
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0% MC |
6% MC |
20% MC |
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Tangential |
9.6 |
8.0 |
3.3 |
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Radial |
8.2 |
6.8 |
2.8 |
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Volumetric |
18.6 |
15.5 |
6.5 |
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Seasoning is difficult,
as a result of the high density, which lengthens the drying period. References: 0%
MC (59), |
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Kiln Drying
Schedulesa
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Stock |
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Condition |
4/4, 5/4, 6/4 |
8/4 |
10/4 |
12/4 |
16/4 |
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Standard |
T6-B3 |
T3-B1 |
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aReferences
(6, 86). |
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Working
Properties: Very difficult to work.
Durability: No
information available at this time.
Preservation:
No information available at this time.
Uses: Furniture,
axles, handles, levers, mallets, splitting wedges, canes, wooden wares,
novelties, fuel wood.
Toxicity: No
information available at this time.
Additional
Reading and References Cited (in parentheses)
6. Boone, R.S.,
C.J. Kozlik, P.J. Bois & E.M. Wengert. 1988. Dry kiln schedules for
?commercial woods - temperate and tropical. USDA Forest Service, FPL ?General
Technical Report FPL-GTR-57.
29. Elias, T.S.
1980. The complete trees of North America, field guide and natural history.
?Van Nostrand Reinhold Co., New York, 948 pp.
55. Little, Jr.,
E.L.1979. Checklist of United States trees (native and naturalized). USDA
?Forest Service, Ag. Handbook No. 541, USGPO, Washington, DC.
59. Markwardt,
L.J. and T.R.C. Wilson. 1935. Strength and related properties of woods ?grown
in the United States. USDA Forest Service, Tech. Bull. No. 479. USGPO,
?Washington, DC.
68. Panshin,
A.J. and C. de Zeeuw. 1980. Textbook of Wood Technology, 4th Ed., ?McGraw-Hill
Book Co., New York, 722 pp.
74. Record, S.J.
and R.W. Hess. 1943. Timbers of the new world. Yale University Press, ?New
Haven, 640 pp.
86. Simpson,
W.T. 1991. Dry kiln operator's manual. USDA Forest Service, FPL Ag. ?Handbook
188.
90. Summitt, R.
and A. Sliker. 1980. CRC handbook of materials science. Volume 4, ?wood. ?CRC
Press, Inc., Boca Raton, FL. 459 pp.