American Hornbeam - Ultimate Bo!

[John Bennett]

For years I have been fashioning canes and fighting sticks out of a particular type of wood that grows in my area.

I finally figured out what kind of wood it is. We always called it "Ironwood" but the real name is Carpinus caroliniana or American Hornbeam. It is native to the eastern third of the US up to about the great plains.

This stuff is great! It is as tough as nails and light as a feather. I can take a 2" diameter cane made from it and stand on it across two chairs without it breaking.

I usually find it along sandy creekbottoms. It is an undergrowth tree and needs lot of water. The distinctive feature is that the bark of the tree is is smooth and grey and looks like a man's muscled forearm. It has wavy grooves in it. Here's a picture...

and

I find a small, straight tree and cut it to a length longer than I will eventually want. Then I wrap plastic bags or Saran wrap around both ends with duct tape. This keeps it from spliting as it drys out. You must leave the bark on as well.

I stow it away in my garage for about a year or so until it is fully dry and hard.

Incredible stuff! It's strong as oak but as light as willow. I carry one around with me to fend off unruly dogs when I take my kids walking around our suburbs. I take one camping to poke fires and prop things up.

Here's some other info on it...
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Common Names: American Hornbeam, Ironwood, Blue Beech, Water Beech, Musclewood

Latin name: Carpinus caroliniana

Family: Betulaceae (alders & birches)

American hornbeam is a graceful understory tree with leaves that turn orange to scarlet in autumn. It is found growing in moist, rich bottomlands of valleys and watercourses. The bark is smooth and gray and has broad ridges that curve up and around the trunk and branches, resembling a sinewy, muscular arm.

Plant Habit or Use: small tree
Exposure: partial sun
Flower Color: green
Blooming Period: spring
Fruit Characteristics: small nutlet, green turning brown
Height: to 50 ft.
Width: 20 to 25 ft.
Plant Character: deciduous
Heat Tolerance: high
Water Requirements: high
Soil Requirements: adaptable
USDA Hardiness Zone: 3


The leaves:

[bobby_steeles]

john bennet--the "macgyver" of the martial arts...

[dan downard]

John,I cant wait for your dissertation on the American bo weavel.

[John Bennett]

HA!

Aw man, don't get me started on bole weevils.

[Hawk]

Thanks John,
I always wondered what the real name was.
Hawk

[Karlinhos]

hey, can y'all widdle me up one of dem...???