ASPEN 105 



wheat is parasitic on its roots. Other fungi infesting beech are Nectria, 

 Sphcerulina, Rosellinia, Dichcena, Bulgaria, Armillaria, Lenzites, Panus, 

 Psilocybe, Hypholoma, Pholiota, Collybia, Fames, Polypoms, Fistiilina, 

 Hydnum, and it is galled by Monocketus, Hormomyia, Cecidomyia. 



The insect pests are, amongst many others: Lucanus cervus, 

 Sinodendron cylindricum, Dorcus parallelipipedus, Melolontha vulgaris, 

 Agrilus viridis, Orchestes fagi, Rhopalomesites lardyi, Cryphahis fagi, 

 Cryptococcus fagi, Phyllaphis fagi, &c., Stauropus fagi, Limacodes 

 testudo, Nola strigula, Aglaia tau, Dicycla oo, &c. 



Fagus, Pliny, is the Latin for beech, and is cognate with the word 

 beech. The second Latin name indicates its woodland habitat. 



This tree is called Beech, Buck, Buck's-mast, Hay Beech, Mast. 

 Buck-mast was so called because " deere delight to feed thereon". 

 " In Hants," a writer says, "the fruit of the beech tree is called Mast 

 or Beech Mast, and when hogs are turned out into the woods in 

 autumn to feed on it they are said to be turned out to mast." The 

 tree was superstitiously regarded as proof against lightning. 



The wood is used by turners, joiners, millwrights. The thin bark 

 has been used for basket-work and band-boxes, and for straw for 

 palliasses. Pigs and deer are fond of the mast, which served as an 

 article of food in ancient times. The wood is durable under water, but 

 liable to be affected by extremes of temperature, and to be attacked by 

 beetles. An oil is contained in the mast, which is expressed as a sort 

 of olive oil, and also sugar and starch. 



Beech wood is used abroad for charcoal, and for sabots and planks, 

 after soaking in water and smoking. 



ESSENTIAL SPECIFIC CHARACTERS: 



283. Fagus sylvatica, L. Tree, tall, smooth bark, leaves ovate, 

 ciliate at the margin, glabrous, serrate, silky in bud, male flowers in 

 crowded catkins, pendent, females 1-3, fruit triquetrous. 



Aspen (Populus tremula, L.) 



Traces of the Aspen have been discovered in Calcareous Tufa of 

 Neolithic age in Flints. It is found in the Arctic and N. Temperate 

 Zones in Arctic Europe, N. Africa, and N. Asia. In Great Britain it 

 is not found in S. Hants, E. Kent, Monmouth, Cardigan, Lines, Mid 

 Lanes, Haddington, Linlithgow, Caithness, but elsewhere as far north 

 as the Orkneys, and is probably indigenous, but often planted. In 

 Yorks it is found at 1600 ft. It is a native of Ireland and the Channel 

 Islands. 



