Handbook of Teees of the Northern States and Canai> 



The Beech is one of tlie most distinct and 

 beautiful trees of our eastern American forests, 

 sometimes surjiassin^' lUO ft. in hei^'ht aiui 

 witli straight coluiuiuir trunk ;> or 4 ft. in 

 thickness vested in its trim smoolli l,luisli 

 gray bark. When isohitcd it .h'v.'lops a 

 rounded or broad upri^^ht spreading,' ti)[) ot 

 many brandies an,l >l.'ndcM- branchlcts. It in- 

 habits ricli well-drained uplanils and slopes, in 

 the north in conii.aiiy with the Sugar Maple, 

 Birches, Hop llondHMni, liasswood. Hemlock, 

 etc. and in the south is found along the borders 

 of swam()s and bottom-lands. It often in old 

 age sends up many shoots from its roots which 

 form a thicket about its base, and as the 

 parent declines the fittest of these survive and 

 grow into trees to take its place. It is a 

 beautiful tree at all times, each successive 

 season of the year giving to it a peculiar 

 charm, and not the least of these is its leafless 

 condition in winter. Its nuts form the chief 

 article of food for many denizens of the forest 

 and they are sometimes gathered and sold in 

 northern markets. 



The wood, a cubic foot of which, when abso- 

 lutely dry, weighs 42.8!) lbs., is used in the 

 manufacture of furniture, wooden-ware, plane- 

 stocks, etc., and for fuel.-' 



Leaves ovate-olilong, H-6 in. Ions;, acuminate, 

 wedge-shaped, rounded or cordate at base, coarsely 

 serrate, a vein terminating in each tooth, [yule 

 green and silky tomentose when they unfold, hut 

 finally glabrous darli green aljove, paler and witli 

 hairs in the axils and <m the midribs boneatli : 

 petioles short. rimnis appear after the leaves 

 unfold. Fruit: nut aluuU % in. long; involucre 

 covered with many slender pricldes, with stout 

 peduncles and persisting open ni)on the Oranchlets 

 late into the winter.^ 



1. Syn. Fagus ferruginea Ait. Fagus atro- 

 punicea (Marsh.) Sudw. 



2. A. W., I, 16. 



3. For genus see p. 420. 



