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