23 



VII. 



CUPULIFER^. 

 QUERCINE^. 



THE BEECH. 



FAGUS SYLVATICA. 



Formerly the nuts of the beech tree were used 

 for food, and its specific name is derived from the 

 word, pliago, to eat. It has been doubted whether 

 the beech is a true British tree, "as no prehistoric 

 " remains of its wood can be traced;" but we 

 have no record of its introduction, and old writers 

 mention it as " one of the four aboriginal trees." 

 Our species is to be found nearly all over Europe, 

 and in Asia Minor. 



It is supposed to reach its prime in about 

 eighty years, but it continues to live to a great 

 age. Standing alone it has usually a short stem, 

 from which it throws up two or three vertical 

 limbs. It forms a close rigid tree, with rather a 

 rounded outline. The matted roots extend near 

 the surface to a great distance ; it flourishes on 

 nearly all soils, but in very exposed situations 

 old trees are liable to be uprooted. 



The small oval leaves appear early in Ma}', 

 and the tree blossoms in June ; the bark is of 

 a greyish brown, and being very smooth and 



