Fagus grandifoloa Family - Fagus - Beech
With the exception of Florida and northern Maine, the American Beech inhabits forests in the entire eastern portion of North America east of the Mississippi River. The fall leaves turn a golden yellow. The leaves, especially on younger trees, are retained into winter. The golden brown of these leaves, combined with the soft, gray color of the smooth bark creates a wonderland effect in the freshly fallen snows of early winter.
American Beech is at its best, attaining its largest sizes in the Ohio River and Mississippi River Valleys. Beech nuts mature in the autumn and form the diets of a great variety of woodland creatures. The nuts are rich in oil, and are eaten in great quantities by wild turkeys, squirrels and chipmunks, and many different types of birds. The trees will grow to over one hundred feet tall.
American Beech is a fairly slow growing tree, with a close grained wood. Barrels, tool handles and some furniture is constructed from it. The deciduous leaf is simple, dagger shaped and lightly toothed. The bark is a smooth gray, affording a great surface for vandals to deface the tree with graffiti. This should not be done, as it is very injurious to a valuable wildlife tree.
Not only is the American Beech one of the most beautiful deciduous trees found in the woodland, for various reasons it is a valuable tree for wildlife, too. The small nuts are nutritious food for many different types of animals and birds. The trees frequently become hollow with age, providing many animals winter shelter within the warmness of its trunk.
© 2006
Paul Wonning is the owner of Gardens and Nature.com a web site about gardening, hiking and other nature related topics.
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