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American Beech (Fagus grandifolia Ehrh.) Beech is found throughout
the state, however, it grows best in moist mountain coves. Beech
is widely found scattered with oaks and hickories on rich, well-drained
bottoms. In the mountains, it sometimes grows in dense, unmixed
stands or in association with sugar maple, yellow birch and
other hardwoods. The American beech has oblong-ovate pointed
leaves 2 to 6 inches long that are mostly grouped toward the
ends of the branches on short branchlets. Leaf margins have
small teeth that curve inward. Leaves turn bright yellow in
autumn, and later turn light tan. The leaves often remain on
the tree until spring. The distinctive buds are 3/4 to 1 inch
long, slender and sharp pointed. Twigs are slender and zigzagged.
The edible nuts are triangular in shape and about 3/4 inch long.
They are attached in twos and threes in prickly husks that often
remain on the tree after the nuts have fallen (after first frost,
September to November). The nuts are an excellent food for many
wild birds and animals, but good seed crops occur erratically.
The American beech tree generally grows to about 60 to 80 feet
in height and 2 to 3 feet in diameter. The crown is broad and
rounded. The trunk usually is short; its bark is light gray
and very smooth. People frequently scar this tree by carving
letters and words in its bark. The wood of the beech is very
hard, strong and tough, though it will not last long if exposed
to weather or in the soil. The wood is used to some extent for
furniture, flooring, carpenters' tools, novelty wares and food
containers. It also has a high fuel value. American beech is
an extremely important source of mast (food) for a wide variety
of wildlife.
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