twenty stamens crowded on a hairy torus, adnate to the base of a broadly ovate, acute boot-shaped scale, green below the middle, bright red at apex. The pistillate aments are one-half to three-fourths of an inch long with ovate, acute, hairy, green scales and bright scarlet styles. Fruit: Clusters of involucres, hanging from the ends of leafy branches. Each involucre slightly encloses a small oval nut. The involucres are short stalked, usually three-lobed, though one lobe is often wanting; halberd-shaped, coarsely serrated on one margin, or entire. Subdivisions There are two subspecies, which intergrade extensively where they meet: Carpinus caroliniana subsp. caroliniana. Atlantic coastal plain north to Delaware, and lower Mississippi Valley west to eastern Texas. Leaves mostly smaller, long, and relatively broader, broad. Carpinus caroliniana subsp. virginiana. Appalachian Mountains and west to Minnesota and south to Arkansas. Leaves mostly larger, long, and relatively narrower, broad. Ecology They are shade-loving trees, preferring moderate soil fertility and moisture. It has a shallow, wide-spreading root system. The leaves are eaten by the caterpillars of some Lepidoptera, for example the Io moth (Automeris io). Common along the borders of streams and swamps, loves a deep moist soil. Varies from shrub to small tree, and ranges throughout the United States east of the Rocky Mountains. Deer browse the foliage and twigs, while game birds eat the nutlets. Uses The wood is heavy and hard, and is used for tool handles, longbows, walking sticks, walking canes and golf clubs. References caroliniana Trees of Eastern Canada Trees of the Eastern United States Flora of the North-Central United States Flora of the Northeastern United States Flora of the South-Central United States Trees of the Great Lakes region (North America) Flora of the Southeastern United States Trees of humid continental climate Plants described in 1788 Trees of Mexico Trees of Central America Trees of North America Trees of the Southern United States Trees of the United States Trees of Canada