Primitive Archer
Main Discussion Area => Primitive Skills => Topic started by: nugget on June 05, 2007, 09:56:22 pm
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I believe I have some Hophornbeam on my land. I checked it by looking at my National Audobon Society Field Guide. But I was wondering if any of you might know something I could use as a for sure key to identify it?
Nugget
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Don't know.No pictures.What happened to mystery wood of the month?
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It has alternate leaves that look much like the ones on musclewood, but it usually always has shaggy, peely bark. The fruits look much like hops.
(http://plants.usda.gov/gallery/standard/osvi_002_shp.jpg)
(http://plants.usda.gov/gallery/standard/osvi_005_shp.jpg)
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Hornbean looks very similar, but not as shaggy of bark as hophornbean. Pappy has both on his place.
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...Haven't put mystery wood of month together yet Eddie. Other things have been in the way............bob
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After a little more investigation I think I was wrong. It is hornbean not hophornbean. It may still fool me . Either way it is getting cut down and made into a bow.
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Hornbeam usually has really smooth gray bark and the trees are usually fluted and muscley-looking near the base. It should make a good bow too if you can find one straight and untwisted enough for a stave.
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This is straight and the bark is smooth with ridges that run around the girth of the tree real fine close together.The leaves the best i can tell are correct for hornbean . will take another gander today.
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Hillbilly ,what you are describing sounds like what we call Blue Beach has slick bark like a beach but ripples in it that looks like muscles, around here we call it mussel wood.The picture looks like hornbeam.Ryan called it American hornbean,I don't know for sure.I haven't seen a piece of
muscle wood or Blue Beach straight enough to make a bow unless you cut billets and splice it. :)
Pappy
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Pappy- blue beech, musclewood, ironwood, and American hornbeam are all common names for the same tree, Carpinus caroliniana. I've never found one straight enough for a stave yet, either.
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Pappy what you just described sounds just like what I have a bunch of on my property. I have found at least 5 trees that fit the desciption . They are about 8" to 10" around the outside diameter. I might be cutting and seasoning them here real shortly.
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Never built a bow from it ,but have hear it will work,So give it a go and let us know,should be ate up with character and I love that. :)
Pappy