270 



American Beech 



strongly reflexed, stigmatic on their inner faces; ovules 2 in each cell. In fruit 

 the involucre is ovoid, 1.5 to 2 cm. long, leathery, brown-hair\' with soft spreading 

 or recur\'ed spines, borne on a stout, club-shaped stalk 10 to 20 mm. long. The 

 nut is I to 1.5 cm. long, 3-anglcd and narrowly 3-winged, finely hairy, light brown 

 and shining, ripening in late summer, the kernel sweet and edible. The in- 

 volucres remain on the tree long after the nut has fallen out. 



Fig. 229. American Beech, W'oodlawn, New York. 



The wood is hard, strong, tough, ver}^ close-grained, dark or light red-brown; 

 its specific gravity is about 0.67. It is used in the manufacture of furniture, plane- 

 stocks and other tools, and for fuel. It is a favorite for smoking meats and is much 

 used in the manufacture of creosote and other chemical products of destructive 

 distillation. The kernel is sweet and is largely gathered in Canada and sold in 

 the northern cities; southward, however, the tree produces its fruit but sparingly. 



The genus contains about 5 species, confined to the northern hemisphere. 



