Betulaceae -- Birch family

    F. T. Metzger

    Eastern hophornbeam (Ostrya virginiana), also called  American hophornbeam, hornbeam, leverwood, and "ironwood,"  is a small, short-lived tree scattered in the understory of  hardwood forests. It has a slow to medium growth rate on a great  variety of soils and produces an extremely hard wood. The tree is  not large enough for commercially important lumber but is used  locally. It makes an attractive landscape tree and provides  wildlife with a limited amount of seed.