hop hornbeam

noun

any of several Eurasian and North American trees of the genus Ostrya, of the birch family, especially O. virginiana, bearing hoplike fruiting clusters.

An Americanism dating back to 1775–85

The fine, delicate spray of the hop hornbeam is a fairy net whose every mesh is fringed with immaculate beauty.

The great tangle of vine and lace work mixed with snow is young hop hornbeam, supporting honeysuckle.

Comparisons: The blue beech or hornbeam is often confused with the ironwood or hop hornbeam (Ostrya virginiana).

It is known as ironwood, hop-hornbeam, leverwood, and hardhack.

It is often called hornbeam and ironwood, and it is closely related to hop hornbeam (Ostrya virginiana).

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