Fagus grandifolia Ehrh.
American beech
Kingdom Plantae Plants, but not fungi, lichens, or algae
Subkingdom Tracheobionta Vascular plants—plants with a “circulatory system” for delivering water and nutrients
Division Magnoliophyta Flowering plants, also known as angiosperms
Class Magnoliopsida Dicotyledons—plants with two initial seed leaves
Subclass Rosidae Roses, legumes, proteas, dogwoods, hydrangeas, mistletoes, euphorbias, grapes, many more
Order Fagales Birch, she-oak, beech, walnut, bayberry, others
Family Fagaceae Beech familhy
Genus Fagus Latin for “beech”
Species grandifolia “With large leaves”
About plant names...
American beech is native to eastern North America. These slow-growing trees
once covered most of North America, and can reach 400 years in age.
Identification: These trees are 66-115' (20-35 m) in height,
with very smooth bark that is silver-gray in color. Most tree bark roughens with age, but beech tree bark
remains smooth unless attacked by disease. Trees can reproduce by “root suckering,” wherein spreading
roots produce new trees, so it isn’t unusual for a mature tree to be surrounded by younger trees.
Leaves are 3" (7.6 cm) long, alternate , roughly oval with pointed ends,
shiny and waxy, dark green and smooth, with toothed edges. They have strong parallel veins. In the fall, they turn yellow, then a pale straw color in winter—often some of the leaves remain during the winter.
Flowers of both sexes appear on the same tree (making beeches monoecious );
both flowers are greenish and rounded, on stalks up to 1" (2.5 cm).
Fruits, called beechnuts, are small three-winged nuts produced within a bur-like outer covering.
Online References:
Fagus grandifolia on www.carolinanature.com
Fagus grandifolia at the USDA Forest Service's Silvics of North America site
Fagus grandifolia on Wikipedia
Fagus grandifolia at the Virginia Tech Department of Forest Resources and Environmental Conservation
Fagus grandifolia on Plants for a Future, a resource and information centre for edible and otherwise useful plants
Fagus grandifolia at the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center
Fagus grandifolia on Blue Planet Biomes
Fagus grandifolia on eFloras
References:
Sibley, David Allen, The Sibley Guide to Trees , Alfred A. Knopf, 2009 , p. 173
8/21/2017 · Pearl Hill State Park, Townsend, Massachusetts ≈ 5 × 3½" (13 × 9.2 cm)
10/6/2011 · Shieling Forest, Peterborough, New Hampshire ≈ 12 × 8" (31 × 20 cm)
8/21/2017 · Pearl Hill State Park, Townsend, Massachusetts ≈ 4½ × 3" (11 × 7.9 cm)
Young leaves. · 5/11/2016 · Pearl Hill State Park, Ashby, Massachusetts
12/22/2011 · Rte. 225, West Groton, Massachusetts ID is uncertain
10/6/2011 · Shieling Forest, Peterborough, New Hampshire ≈ 4½ × 3" (11 × 7.9 cm)
10/6/2011 · Shieling Forest, Peterborough, New Hampshire ≈ 11 × 7" (27 × 18 cm)
5/11/2016 · Pearl Hill State Park, Ashby, Massachusetts
4/24/2016 · Blue Trail, Willard Brook State Park, Ashby, New Hampshire
1/1/2012 · Big Tree Trail • Tudor Richards Natural History and Forest Trail, Hollis, New Hampshire ≈ 16 × 24" (41 × 62 cm)
9/28/2011 · Groton Place and Sabine Woods, Groton, Massachusetts ≈ 5 × 3½" (13 × 9.2 cm) ID is uncertain
9/28/2011 · Groton Place and Sabine Woods, Groton, Massachusetts ≈ 2½ × 2" (6.3 × 5.2 cm) ID is uncertain
8/21/2017 · Pearl Hill State Park, Townsend, Massachusetts ≈ 5 × 3½" (12 × 8.7 cm)
5/6/2021 · Tarbox Preserve, Topsham, Maine ≈ 6 × 4½" (16 × 12 cm)
11/8/2009 · Yellow Trail from Pearl Hill State Park to Willard Brook State Park, Ashby, Massachusetts ≈ 3½ × 2½' (1.2 × 0.8 m)
8/9/2010 · Keyes Farm, Nashoba Conservation Trust, Elm St., Pepperell, Massachusetts ≈ 10 × 7" (25 × 16 cm)
4/1/2012 · Pearl Hill State Park, Yellow Trail, Townsend, Massachusetts ≈ 11 × 7" (27 × 18 cm)
Older scientific names
Fagus grandifolia Ehrh. var. caroliniana (Louden) Fernald & Rehder
Fagus americana Sweet
Fagus ferruginea Aiton
Fagus grandifolia Ehrh. ssp. heterophylla Camp
Fagus grandifolia Ehrh. var. caroliniana (Louden) Fernald & Rehder
Fagus grandifolia Ehrh. var. caroliniana (Loudon) Fernald & Rehder
Fagus grandifolia description by Thomas H. Kent, last updated 14 Aug 2021.
© FloraFinder.org. All rights reserved.
12/22/2011 · Rte. 225, West Groton, Massachusetts ID is uncertain
5/7/2021 · Long Reach Preserve, Harpswell, Maine ≈ 5 × 3½" (13 × 9.6 cm)
8/9/2010 · Keyes Farm, Nashoba Conservation Trust, Elm St., Pepperell, Massachusetts ≈ 22 × 15" (56 × 37 cm)
3/9/2012 · Groton Place and Sabine Woods, Groton, Massachusetts ≈ 31 × 46" (78 × 117 cm)
5/6/2021 · Tarbox Preserve, Topsham, Maine ≈ 3½ × 5" (9.4 × 13 cm)
10/20/2013 · Barrett Park, Leominster, Massachusetts ≈ 21 × 31" (53 × 79 cm)
12/12/2020 · By Jacquelyn Boyt
5/6/2021 · Tarbox Preserve, Topsham, Maine ≈ 5 × 3½" (12 × 8.7 cm)
Young leaves. · 5/11/2016 · Pearl Hill State Park, Ashby, Massachusetts
5/22/2010 · Garden in the Woods, Framingham, Massachusetts ≈ 11 × 7" (27 × 18 cm)
8/9/2010 · Keyes Farm, Nashoba Conservation Trust, Elm St., Pepperell, Massachusetts ≈ 6 × 4" (15 × 10 cm)
Does anyone know what causes the patterns on the bark? Young lichens? · 7/3/2012 · Yellow Trail from Pearl Hill State Park to Willard Brook State Park, Ashby, Massachusetts ≈ 6 × 9" (14 × 22 cm)
10/6/2011 · Shieling Forest, Peterborough, New Hampshire ≈ 9 × 14" (23 × 35 cm)
7/5/2015 · Jeff Smith Trail, Beaver Brook Conservation Area, Hollis, New Hampshire ≈ 8 × 12" (21 × 31 cm)
5/6/2021 · Tarbox Preserve, Topsham, Maine ≈ 4 × 5" (11 × 13 cm)
12/22/2011 · Rte. 225, West Groton, Massachusetts ID is uncertain
2/18/2012 · Pearl Hill State Park, Townsend, Massachusetts ≈ 31 × 46" (78 × 117 cm)
5/18/2013 · Oak Hill, Littleton Conservation Land, Littleton, Massachusetts ≈ 31 × 47" (79 × 119 cm)
Range: Zones 3-9:
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