American Hop Hornbeam

Ostrya virginiana (American Hop Hornbeam, Ironwood) 

Description: small tree, 30-40 ft. high, hillsides and ridges with gravely soils

Leaves: 2.5-4.5 in. long, oval, double-toothed, tufts of yellow hair on lower midrib (central vein of a leaf, running down the center of the blade)

Buds/Flowers: light brown or green  hop-like fruit in clusters, 1.5-2.5 inches long

Bark: mature bark in narrow strips curling away from trunk

Range:

USDA, NRCS. 2015. The PLANTS Database (http://plants.usda.gov, 15 July 2015). National Plant Data Team, Greensboro, NC 27401-4901 USA.