Illinois Natural History Survey - University of Illinois

Ostrya virginiana
Ironwood
Taxonomy

Synonyms: Ostrya virginiana f. glandulosa, Ostrya virginiana var. virginiana

Subspecific taxa:

Classification:

  • Magnoliophyta

Other taxonomic & nomenclature sources: USDA Plants;  ITIS;  The Plant List;  IPNI

Images

   
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Species Distribution
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More about map & occurrence records

County Map Legend
Absent:
Not known from county
Medium confidence:
Medium or unknown confidence;
often old records or unverifiable observations
Medium-high confidence:
Often observations by expert botanists
High confidence:
Often vouchered herbarium records
Planted / introduced:
Native species introduced outside historic range,
or only in planted locations within county (e.g., restorations)
Historic / extirpated:
Only historic records for the species; likely extirpated
(Note that this category is not yet functional)

North American distribution maps for this species: FLNA;  USDA Plants;  BONAP;  BISON

Collections, Observations & Flowering by Month [?]

J
0
F
0
M
0
A
0
M
0
J
0
J
0
A
0
S
0
O
0
N
0
D
0

Collections & Observations by Decade [?]

Species Status

Status/Listing: No Information

Notes:

Origin: Native

Species Description

General: Dicot-woody, perennial

Roots: primary

Shoots: alternate leaf arrangment; simple leaf type; doubly serrate leaf margin; Pinnate leaf venation; linear, lanceolate leaf shape

Inflorescence: catkin

Flowers: unisexual, monoecious; incomplete, not petals; epigynous ovary position

Fruit: nut

Physiology: autotrophic; C3 C02 fixation

Reproduction: sexual

Ecology & Natural History

Habitat: Species is distributed on rocky slopes.

ILPIN Notes: Leaves are green and smooth on the upper surface; paler and usually slightly hairy on lower surface, lateral veins usually forked near margin; rough and flaky bark, nutlet enclosed by an inflated bladder. Seed company numbers: 2, 16, 27, 28, 29, 30, 32 Wood is strong, hard, tough, and durable. These are terrestrial furbearers - food - seeds, buds. Tree is form-balled and burlapped, seeds.

Functional Relationships:

  • Pollinators: wind
  • Dispersal:
  • Mycorrhizae:
  • N2 fixation:

Human Relationships:

  • Edibility [?] :
  • Showy Flowers:

Wildlife and Livestock Information:

  • Food Value:
  • Cover Value: small non-game bird: good

Coefficient of Conservatism (C-value) [?] :

  • Entire State: 4
  • Chicago Area: 5

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