Origin and history
Hornbeam, sometimes called "common hornbeam" or "forest hornbeam," is a tree typical of temperate European woodlands. Its name comes from the Latin * carpinus *, meaning "hard wood," referring to the exceptional strength of its trunk. In Celtic mythology, hornbeam symbolized loyalty, wisdom, and rigor, qualities associated with its straight and elegant form. Since the Middle Ages, its dense wood has been used to make tools, wheels, and objects requiring great strength. In gemmotherapy, hornbeam is now valued for its gentle action on fatigue and the circulatory system.