Family |
Betulaceae
Ostrya carpinifolia
Scop.
Ostrya carpinifolia Scop.
First published in Fl. Carniol., ed. 2, 2: 244 (1771).
(Nouvelle Flore du Liban et de la Syrie, vol. 1, p. 357, Pl. CXVI, 5; 1966)
Description
Life-form & habit: Tree reaching about 8 m in Mouterde's regional account, often reduced to a shrub by heavy grazing.
Leaves: Short-stalked, ovate to oblong, rounded or slightly heart-shaped at the base, with strongly double-toothed margins. Undersides paler and hairy.
Inflorescence & flowers: Male flowers in hanging reddish-brown catkins with pointed bracts. Female flowers grouped in small reddish, hop-like clusters.
Fruit: Fruiting clusters 3–6 cm long, hanging or upright, composed of pointed, ovate, membranous sacs with conspicuous net-like veins. Each sac encloses a single-seeded nutlet.
Flowering and habitat
Phenology: Flowering March–April.
Habitat & elevation: Woodland.
Distribution
Lebanese distribution: Bteghrine, Aramoun–Chahtoul, Sir, Fnaidek, Ehden, Nebaa Cheikh Jnaid near Akkar el Atiq, Mazraat Kfar Debiane–Faraya and Kfertay.
Syrian distribution: Slenfe, Freiket pass, Froulok, Karadourane and Ain el Haramiyeh.
Native range: Albania, Austria, Bulgaria, Corse, France, Greece, Italy, Lebanon-Syria, North Caucasus, NW. Balkan Pen., Sardegna, Sicilia, Switzerland, Transcaucasus, Türkiye, Türkiye-in-Europe.
Introduced into: Germany.