This hornbeam is bearing attractive catkins on the Fairway.
A native of forests and limestone crags of southern China and Taiwan, Carpinus kawakamii is a small tree reaching only 5m in height. It has narrow ovate to lanceolate leaves with 10 to 15 lateral veins and serrate leaf margins. The delicate, downy catkins bear distinct bracts amongst which sit the nutlets (fruits). The genus Carpinus contains 45 species of American, European and Asian trees and shrubs. It is closely related to Corylus (hazels) and Ostrya (hop hornbeams), which also belong to the birch family (Betulaceae).