To learn more about the map elements, please download the "Pan-European strategy for genetic conservation of forest trees"
This distribution map has been developed by the European Commission Joint Research Centre (partly based on the EUFORGEN map) and released under Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International (CC-BY 4.0)
Caudullo, Giovanni; Welk, Erik; San-Miguel-Ayanz, Jesús (2017). Chorological maps and data for the main European woody species. figshare. Collection. https://doi.org/10.6084/m9.figshare.c.2918528
The following experts have contributed to the development of the EUFORGEN distribution maps:
Fazia Krouchi (Algeria), Hasmik Ghalachyan (Armenia), Thomas Geburek (Austria), Berthold Heinze (Austria), Rudi Litschauer (Austria), Rudolf Litschauer (Austria), Michael Mengl (Austria), Ferdinand Müller (Austria), Franz Starlinger (Austria), Valida Ali-zade (Azerbaijan), Vahid Djalal Hajiyev (Azerbaijan), Karen Cox (Belgium), Bart De Cuyper (Belgium), Olivier Desteucq (Belgium), Patrick Mertens (Belgium), Jos Van Slycken (Belgium), An Vanden Broeck (Belgium), Kristine Vander Mijnsbrugge (Belgium), Dalibor Ballian (Bosnia and Herzegovina), Alexander H. Alexandrov (Bulgaria), Alexander Delkov (Bulgaria), Ivanova Denitsa Pandeva (Bulgaria), Peter Zhelev Stoyanov (Bulgaria), Joso Gracan (Croatia), Marilena Idzojtic (Croatia), Mladen Ivankovic (Croatia), Željka Ivanović (Croatia), Davorin Kajba (Croatia), Hrvoje Marjanovic (Croatia), Sanja Peric (Croatia), Andreas Christou (Cyprus), Xenophon Hadjikyriacou (Cyprus), Václav Buriánek (Czech Republic), Jan Chládek (Czech Republic), Josef Frýdl (Czech Republic), Petr Novotný (Czech Republic), Martin Slovacek (Czech Republic), Zdenek Špišek (Czech Republic), Karel Vancura (Czech Republic), Ulrik Bräuner (Denmark), Bjerne Ditlevsen (Denmark), Jon Kehlet Hansen (Denmark), Jan Svejgaard Jensen (Denmark), Kalev Jðgiste (Estonia), Tiit Maaten (Estonia), Raul Pihu (Estonia), Ülo Tamm (Estonia), Arvo Tullus (Estonia), Aivo Vares (Estonia), Teijo Nikkanen (Finland), Sanna Paanukoski (Finland), Mari Rusanen (Finland), Pekka Vakkari (Finland), Leena Yrjänä (Finland), Daniel Cambon (France), Eric Collin (France), Alexis Ducousso (France), Bruno Fady (France), François Lefèvre (France), Brigitte Musch (France), Sylvie Oddou-Muratorio (France), Luc E. Pâques (France), Julien Saudubray (France), Marc Villar (France), Vlatko Andonovski (FYR Macedonia), Dragi Pop-Stojanov (FYR Macedonia), Merab Machavariani (Georgia), Irina Tvauri (Georgia), Alexander Urushadze (Georgia), Bernd Degen (Germany), Jochen Kleinschmit (Germany), Armin König (Germany), Armin König (Germany), Volker Schneck (Germany), Richard Stephan (Germany), H. H. Kausch-Blecken Von Schmeling (Germany), Georg von Wühlisch (Germany), Iris Wagner (Germany), Heino Wolf (Germany), Paraskevi Alizoti (Greece), Filippos Aravanopoulos (Greece), Andreas Drouzas (Greece), Despina Paitaridou (Greece), Aristotelis C. Papageorgiou (Greece), Kostas Thanos (Greece), Sándor Bordács (Hungary), Csaba Mátyás (Hungary), László Nagy (Hungary), Thröstur Eysteinsson (Iceland), Adalsteinn Sigurgeirsson (Iceland), Halldór Sverrisson (Iceland), John Fennessy (Ireland), Ellen O'Connor (Ireland), Fulvio Ducci (Italy), Silvia Fineschi (Italy), Bartolomeo Schirone (Italy), Marco Cosimo Simeone (Italy), Giovanni Giuseppe Vendramin (Italy), Lorenzo Vietto (Italy), Janis Birgelis (Latvia), Virgilijus Baliuckas (Lithuania), Kestutis Cesnavicius (Lithuania), Darius Danusevicius (Lithuania), Valmantas Kundrotas (Lithuania), Alfas Pliûra (Lithuania), Darius Raudonius (Lithuania), Robert du Fays (Luxembourg), Myriam Heuertz (Luxembourg), Claude Parini (Luxembourg), Fred Trossen (Luxembourg), Frank Wolter (Luxembourg), Joseph Buhagiar (Malta), Eman Calleja (Malta), Ion Palancean (Moldova), Dragos Postolache (Moldova), Gheorghe Postolache (Moldova), Hassan Sbay (Morocco), Tor Myking (Norway), Tore Skrøppa (Norway), Anna Gugala (Poland), Jan Kowalczyk (Poland), Czeslaw Koziol (Poland), Jan Matras (Poland), Zbigniew Sobierajski (Poland), Maria Helena Almeida (Portugal), Filipe Costa e Silva (Portugal), Luís Reis (Portugal), Maria Carolina Varela (Portugal), Ioan Blada (Romania), Alexandru-Lucian Curtu (Romania), Lucian Dinca (Romania), Georgeta Mihai (Romania), Mihai Olaru (Romania), Gheorghe Parnuta (Romania), Natalia Demidova (Russian Federation), Mikhail V. Pridnya (Russian Federation), Andrey Prokazin (Russian Federation), Srdjan Bojovic (Serbia) , Vasilije Isajev (Serbia), Saša Orlovic (Serbia), Rudolf Bruchánik (Slovakia), Roman Longauer (Slovakia), Ladislav Paule (Slovakia), Gregor Bozič (Slovenia), Robert Brus (Slovenia), Katarina Celič (Slovenia), Hojka Kraigher (Slovenia), Andrej Verlič (Slovenia), Marjana Westergren (Slovenia), Ricardo Alía (Spain), Josefa Fernández-López (Spain), Luis Gil Sanchez (Spain), Pablo Gonzalez Goicoechea (Spain), Santiago C. 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Status of Carpinus orientalis conservation in Europe
Oriental hornbeam is a diploid species. Research in Iranian populations revealed that the species possesses high genetic diversity compared with other species of the same genus with similar life-history traits (Riahee et al., 2022). This could be reflective of high genetic diversity in Iranian populations as they were shown to have higher genetic diversity than European populations (Riahee et al., 2022). Populations in south-eastern Europe have significant genetic variability both within and among populations, higher than that in western European populations (Riahee et al., 2022). Studies of Romanian populations show lower genetic variation and stronger genetic differentiation among populations due to fragmentation and limited seed dispersal (Cărăbuș et al., 2017). While some populations have high genetic diversity, historical isolation and limited gene flow has restricted the genetic variation of some populations in Europe.
Genetic research on oriental hornbeam in Europe is limited, but existing studies show the species has high population genetic differentiation (Cărăbuș et al., 2017). Strong genetic differentiation among populations in Romania has been observed; this is due to fragmentation and geographic isolation restricting seed distribution and gene flow over long distances (Cărăbuș et al., 2017). The genetic variation of the species shows a clear geographic structuring, but overall genetic diversity remains low compared with other broadleaf tree species, at least in Romania (Cărăbuș et al., 2017).
Both the pollen and seed of oriental hornbeam are wind dispersed. Pollen dispersal can take place over large distances while seed dispersal is more limited. Research suggests oriental hornbeam has low levels of gene flow among populations through seed dispersal (Riahee et al., 2022).
The bibliographic review was conducted by James Chaplin of the EUFORGEN Secretariat in August 2025.
There is evidence of past hybridization events not only within hornbeam (Carpinus) but also with closely related genera such as hop-hornbeam (Ostrya). This has contributed to the diversification of hornbeam lineages and may have influenced traits important for adaptation and speciation (Wang et al., 2022).
There are 35 hornbeam species worldwide, with two native to Europe (common hornbeam and oriental hornbeam) (Riahee et al., 2022). Interspecific hybrids involving oriental hornbeam are known in Iran and Europe, reflecting its evolutionary plasticity (Riahee et al., 2022). However, common hornbeam and oriental hornbeam show low introgression in Europe, with no shared chloroplast haplotypes, despite overlapping distributions in south-eastern Europe (Grivet and Petit, 2003; Cărăbuș et al., 2017; Riahee et al., 2022). This shows clear separation between the two species, which have experienced an evolutionary split, and that hybridization has only a small effect on the gene pools of European populations of oriental hornbeam (Cărăbuș et al., 2017; Riahee et al., 2022).
Oriental hornbeam experienced long-term isolation in southern refugia (Balkans and Italy) during glacial periods (Grivet and Petit, 2003). After the Last glacial maximum, postglacial recolonization of the species was restricted, which may have had a bottleneck effect on the species as it expanded, reducing the genetic diversity of populations in Western Europe (Grivet and Petit, 2003). postglacial recolonization of the species was restricted, which may have had a bottleneck effect on the species as it expanded, reducing the genetic diversity of populations in Western Europe (Grivet and Petit, 2003).
The bibliographic review was conducted by James Chaplin of the EUFORGEN Secretariat in August 2025.
As the climate in Europe warms and becomes drier, the suitable habitat range of oriental hornbeam may be reduced. Varol et al. (2022) suggests that populations of oriental hornbeam may be reduced by 30% at altitudes below 1 000 m, while suitable habitats are projected to expand at higher elevations (1 000–2 000 m). However, the species is unlikely to migrate rapidly enough to keep up with changes, raising the risk of population decline and local extinctions. This could lead to genetic bottlenecks and a subsequent loss of genetic diversity (Varol et al., 2022). Climate change is therefore expected to significantly alter the distribution of oriental hornbeam in Europe, threatening both population stability and the preservation of its genetic resources.
Genetic conservation efforts for oriental hornbeam should prioritize maintaining both core and peripheral populations. For example, the discovery of a rare haplotype in a peripheral population in northern Romania highlights the importance of conserving unique and marginal populations as reservoirs of genetic diversity (Cărăbuș et al., 2017). Protecting these isolated populations could help safeguard adaptive potential in the face of environmental change. Research on the genetic diversity of oriental hornbeam in Europe remains sparse and more studies are needed to fully understand how genetic variation will respond to ongoing threats, and to develop effective management and conservation strategies to mitigate the risks.
The bibliographic review was conducted by James Chaplin of the EUFORGEN Secretariat in August 2025.
Genetic Characterisation of Carpinus orientalis and its GCUs
Availability of FRM
FOREMATIS
Further reading
Cărăbuș, M.C. and Șofletea, N. 2014. European hornbeam (Carpinus betulus L.) and oriental hornbeam (C. orientalis Mill.): a review on origin, evolution, phytocoenology and genetics. Revista de Silvicultură și Cinegetică, 19(35): 28–33.
References
Cărăbuş, M.C., Curtu, A.L., Postolache, D., Ciocirlan, E., and Şofletea, N. 2017. Evidence of low chloroplast genetic diversity in two Carpinus species in the northern Balkans. Notulae Botanicae Horti Agrobotanici Cluj-Napoca, 45(1): 316–322. https://doi.org/10.15835/nbha45110799
Grivet, D. and Petit, R.J. 2003. Chloroplast DNA phylogeography of the hornbeam in Europe: Evidence for a bottleneck at the outset of postglacial colonization. Conservation Genetics, 4(1): 47–56. https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1021804009832
Riahee, A., Assadi, M., Zare, H., and Mehregan, I. 2022. Molecular diversity and genetic relationships between Carpinus betulus and C. orientalis with Inter Simple Sequence Repeat (ISSR) regions. Acta Botanica Hungarica, 64(1–2): 201–218. https://doi.org/10.1556/034.64.2022.1-2.11
Varol, T., Cetin, M., Ozel, H.B., Sevik, H., and Zeren Cetin, I. 2022. The effects of climate change scenarios on Carpinus betulus and Carpinus orientalis in Europe. Water, Air, & Soil Pollution, 233(2): 45. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11270-022-05516-w
Wang, Z., Kang, M., Li, J., Zhang, Z., Wang, Y., Chen, C., Yang, Y., and Liu, J. 2022. Genomic evidence for homoploid hybrid speciation between ancestors of two different genera. Nature Communications, 13: 1987. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-022-29643-4
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